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Our Prayers

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

“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.’

 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 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.” (Nehemiah 1:5-11a) 

After mourning, fasting, and praying for several days, Nehemiah records the prayer above. A brief outline for this prayer would be:

I.                   Who God is

II.                Who we are

III.             What God said

IV.            Therefore, what we ask

Of course, the question screams to be asked, “If he spent the past several days mourning, fasting, and praying, why does then pray the prayer above?” One answer is that Nehemiah was a product of the culture in which he lived, and one might express needs with whines, wails, sobs, grumbles, and screams privately, when going before the one who could actually answer, one had a formal, well-argued request that followed the outline.

Another might be that while God answers the inarticulate “God, help!” prayers, He expects us to grow up into mature, competent adults who can work out a request that express more than our desires. Babies cry. Toddlers give one word demands. Children learn to ask and use “magic” words. Teens revert to threats. Adults have learned to analyze the situation and make rational requests.

Some people would describe this prayer as claiming a promise of God. If God’s people did what God’s people promised to do, God said He would do what He promised to do. It should be noted that Nehemiah never claims that all the Jews were doing what the Jews had promised to do, but some were. That’s a necessary element in our prayers – that we are at least attempting to do what we have promised to do. There are three other elements tucked into these words:

1.     The request is made in light of God’s character and purpose and would move both God’s and Nehemiah’s plans forward.

2.     The request being answered would bring glory to God.

3.     Nehemiah didn’t ask for “all better!” He asked for the next immediate step that would move things in the direction he believed would mover God’s promise toward fulfillment. Nehemiah was in a position to seek cooperation from the king, which was the easiest way to move forward.

As we consider goals and resolutions for next year, two over-arching ideas come to mind. We are to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths, and love our neighbors as ourselves. And, God is working in us to conform us to the image of Christ. What goal(s) do we have that are in keeping with God’s character and purposes? Which goals would being glory to God? What goals would be a clear next step in God’s fulfillment of His purposes? For which goals do you have a specific step or set of steps? 

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