Elements of the Prayer
Yesterday we left off with Nehemiah having the call upon his life to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. After the Babylonian siege, Jerusalem's wall and gates needed to be repaired in order for the returning exiles to live safely within its parameters. First, however, Nehemiah had to go into prayer and seek God's counsel before starting this work. Let's dig deep into the elements of his prayer and see how we too can use it when we allow the Potter to rebuild the walls of our lives.
a.) Acknowledgement of God’s
Power
Nehemiah 1:5 Then I said: “O Lord, God of
heaven, the great and awesome God…”(NIV) Nehemiah went before God in all due humility by first
acknowledging that God was superior to himself. He knew that God was the
Creator of all things and yet, while ruling in Heaven, was mindful of the
events taking place on earth. Nehemiah’s acknowledgement of God’s authority
also made clear that He knew that to find favor with an earthly king, his favor
had to begin with the King above.
When we go before the Potter, we too must acknowledge who He
is with great humility and the deepest sincerity. 1 Peter 5:6 Humble
yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due
time. (NIV) We are never to approach God as if He owes us something,
but give Him reverence and respect for who He is. Even if He was to say no to
our requests, He is still God and we are to trust in His infinite wisdom that
He knows what’s best for us.
b.) Reminder of God’s Love
Nehemiah 1:5b “…who keeps his covenant of
love with those who love him and obey his commands.” (NIV) Nehemiah felt the need to
include God’s covenant of love that He had made with the children of Israel
when they left Egypt. That promise was that He would care for them as long as
they remained faithful unto Him. Although, Israel failed miserably with this,
Nehemiah reminded God that this was His original promise that He had given.
Therefore, this was a part of faith on Nehemiah part that God would remain true
to His word.
God’s word tells us that He is love
and that He will remain faithful to those who keep their covenant with Him. 2
Timothy 2:11-13 (11)Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died
with him, we will also live with him; (12)if we endure, we will also
reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; (13)if we
are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. (NIV)
There is never a time that God doesn’t love us. His love is forever enduring
even when we have to suffer the consequences of our sinful actions. God’s love
remains constant.
c.) Request God’s Attention
Nehemiah 1:6 Let your ear be attentive and
your eyes open to hear your servant is praying before you day and night for
your servants, the people of Israel…(NIV)
Nehemiah was humbly asking God
to give him his undivided attention. He knew that God was a mighty God who had
the power to either listen or reject a petition that was placed before Him.
Therefore, Nehemiah pleaded with God to turn not only His ears, but His eyes
towards him because God examines the hearts and minds of those who come before
Him.
When
we talk to a friend, family member, or loved one, we tend to want their full
attention to ensure that they are paying attention and understanding what we
have to say. Eye contact is quite often the best way to let someone know that
you are being attentive to them even though you are relying upon their audio
sense. When we go to God, we must give Him our full undivided attention just as
we want His. Sometimes our thoughts can stray right in the middle of a prayer
and then we wonder, “Why didn’t I get an answer?” God never sleeps nor slumber.
He is open to listen to our prayers 365 days a year as well as on leap year. Psalm
121:3-4 He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not
slumber; indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
(NIV) The Potter always gives His children His absolute attention even
when He’s seemingly silent.
d.) Confess and Repent
Nehemiah 1:6b-7 …I confess the sins we
Israelites, including myself and my father’s house have committed against you.
We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands,
decrees and laws you gave you servant Moses. (NIV)
Nehemiah
knew that there was no sin that could be hidden in the sight of God. Therefore,
he acknowledged the sins of himself, his family, and those that the nation had
committed before God. The nation of Israel had been in captivity due to the
sins that they had committed and not because God wanted them there. Therefore,
this 70-year captivity that they had been in was part of the punishment that
God had warned them of years prior through His various prophets.
When we go before God and have
unconfessed sin in our lives, it can hinder the blessings that God would
otherwise grant. Therefore, we are to first confess the wrongs that we have
done and then repent by telling God we’re sorry and turning from them. 1
Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn form their wicked ways, then will
I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV)
This verse gives us a complete context for which God promises restoration in
our lives. We must confess our wrong and then turn from it. True repentance
means that we will allow Him to help us to overcome sin. We are never to take
advantage of His grace, but through His grace, He gives us the power to become
overcomers.
e.) Reminder of God’s Covenant
Nehemiah 1:8-9 “Remember the instruction you
gave your servant Moses, saying, “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you
among the nations, 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.” (NIV) Nehemiah included in his prayer
the promise that God had given to the nation, through His prophets of
restoration, after their judgment of exile if they would return to Him
whole-heartedly. The Children of Israel’s exile was nearing its end and
Nehemiah was looking forward to the fulfillment of God’s word in restoring
Israel back to its pre-disobedience status. There were conditions, however,
that had to be made with regards to the nation being obedient to God in order
to receive His blessings of restoration.
God offers His children complete
forgiveness. He does not hold a grudge, but desires that we will be in covenant
with Him. That covenant means to be obedient to Him and allow for His Spirit to
reign in our lives. Isaiah 1:18-20 (18)“Come now, let us reason together,”
says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow;
though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (19)If you
are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; (20)but
if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of
the Lord has spoken. (NIV) God never breaks covenant with His children.
Whenever the covenant is broken, it is the disobedience within our own sinful
nature that breaks it and yet, the Potter still loves us unconditionally.
f.) Pray for Others
Nehemiah 1: 10-11a “They are your servants and
your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. (11a)O
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. (NIV)
When Nehemiah prayed, he not
only prayed for himself, but he prayed on behalf of others that God would hear
and answer their prayers as well. He did not have a heart of selfishness where
it was only about him. Nehemiah asked God to honor the prayers of those who
were truly committed to doing His will for through the prayers of the humbled,
he knew that God would be more keen to answer.
When
we pray, we are to also include the needs of others in our prayers. This helps
to remove the selfishness and self-centeredness that can sometimes be the
subject of our prayers. Praying for others also helps us to take a moment to empathetic,
understanding and able to acknowledge that even though we may not have what we desire
at the time, there are some whose needs are greater than that of our own. 1
Timothy 2:1-3 (1)I urge, then, first of all, that requests,
prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – (2)for
kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in
all godliness and holiness. (3)This is good, and pleases God our
Savior, (4)who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge
of the truth. (NIV) Prayers on behalf are others are pleasing and
acceptable to God.
g.) Ask for Favor
Nehemiah 1:11b “Give your servant success
today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to
the king. (NIV) At
the close of Nehemiah’s prayer, he asked God to grant him favor with the king
in order to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. God was the only one who could lay
it on the king’s heart to grant him favor to take on the task. Nehemiah was
under the rule of King Artaxerxes, but King Artaxerxes was under the rule of
the King of Heaven.
Whenever
you make a request unto God, faith is a requirement in order to see it come to
past. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those
who earnestly seek him. (NIV) God’s favor rest on those who are
obedient to Him and desires nothing more than to grant the petitions of His faithful
servants. There is nothing that we
cannot ask of God that will not be granted IF it lines up with His will.
1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have
in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what
we asked of him. (NIV) This
means that we should not expect an answer to something that goes against who He
is or is opposite of His will for our lives. When God grants one favor, it
means His approval. Therefore, one must never grow impatient waiting on God
because with His favor comes His absolute best. Isaiah 40:31 But those who
hope in the lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like
eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
(NIV)
LET'S GET READY TO REBUILD ON TOMORROW!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment