Meditation

Hi there,

If you struggle with prayer, copying out in longhand the prayers of the Bible is a valuable way to develop a "heart and a mind for prayer."

As someone who struggles to find the words when in prayer, methodically working through the prayers presented in the Bible has been (literally) a Godsend.​

Fortunately, the Bible is full of prayer, recording 650 prayers beginning with the first prayer in Genesis 4:26.

"To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord."

Jesus is recorded praying 25 times during his earthly ministry, and Paul mentions and exhorts prayer over 40 times.

For our encouragement, the Bible also records 450 examples of answered prayer.

Today, we're going to copy out Nehemiah's prayer to God for success in his appeal to Artaxerxes for leave to travel to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls.

Nehemiah is revealed in the book as a man of purpose, planning, and action.

But before these, he is a man of prayer.

Today's text is Nehemiah 1: 1-11. This is a long passage, so if you are tight for time, copy it from verse 5 onwards, and you capture the whole prayer without the preamble.

Nehemiah’s Prayer

1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, ² Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

³ They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”​

⁴ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.​

⁵ Then I said:​

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, ⁶ let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.

⁷ We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

⁸ “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, ⁹ but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’​

¹⁰ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. ¹¹ Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name.​

Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king.

Encouragement

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

2 Philippians 4:6-7

​

Andy​

God's Word In Your Hand

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