Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Heavenly Father, in the Lord Jesus’ Name, I thank You for providing in the Bible the example of Nehemiah’s prayer life. He accomplished something that seemed like an impossible task. He prayed 11 times and was successful with answers for building the wall in 52 days. This is a good example for me to see what can be done when God is directing those who honor Him. The first lesson shown is that after Nehemiah saw the stress and devastation his people went through, he didn’t just got to work with his own abilities and skills, but he developed a prayerful and deliberate plan for rebuilding the wall. He set everything else aside to spend time with God for direction and wisdom. Nehemiah 1:4 “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” 

You make it clear in another of his prayers that Nehemiah was sensitive to the fact that sin had to be confessed before expecting God to work.  Nehemiah 1:6 “…I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.” 

Thank you for sharing Nehemiah’s eight examples of spontaneous, emergency telegram prayers to Heaven, which he was able to use because he had earlier established a close relationship with You in extended prayer. For example, in Nehemiah 2:4, “Then the King said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven” (emphasis added). He needed an immediate answer. 

It is a blessing that You recorded the examples of Nehemiah’s prayers, consisting of praise, thanksgiving, repentance, specific requests, and commitment. Direct me to develop and follow the pattern of his praying. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.