One of my favorite books of the Bible is Nehemiah. Here is a man who is not a pastor or theologian, or even a political leader. He is a cupbearer to the king. A king whose nation conquered his nation years before. And what we see is a man whom God speaks to, moves through, and does incredible things by doing the next right thing in front of him. 

But how do we get from Nehemiah chapter 1, where his heart breaks for the city of Jerusalem that is still broken down, to months later, the wall is rebuilt? A big part of that journey is prayer. 

Nehemiah prays a lot. 

Depending on which translation you use, the book of Nehemiah explicitly says that he prayed 12-14 times. 

It starts in chapter 1. After he learns that the city is still destroyed and lies in ruins, he weeps, fasts, and prays. 

This sets the tone for the whole book. 

In the place of our hearts being broken by the world around us, we can do all kinds of things. We can jump into action, protest, post on social media, start an organization, and gather some friends. He does none of those things. He weeps, prays, and fasts. 

When he begins his prayer, he doesn’t begin with asking something of God; he starts in verse 5 by praising God for who He is: Lord, the God of the heavens, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands.

Then, in verse 6, he confesses sin. Not just his but those who have come before him. 

Then, in verse 8, he prays God’s word. This practice has been used by so many throughout church history. When we don’t know what to pray, we can pray the psalms and remind ourselves of God’s promises, character, and how He has worked in the past. 

After all of that, he finally, in verse 11, prays for favor: Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to that of your servants who delight to revere your name. Give your servant success today, and grant him compassion in the presence of this man.