Nehemiah's Prayer

God's word is powerful and able to rebuke, exhort and encourage at the same time.  I had this experience as I considered the prayer of Nehemiah in chapter 1 after he heard about the desolation of Jerusalem and the affliction of God's people.  After a period of intentional inaction, fasting and mourning, Nehemiah prayed to God in a way that is in some ways foreign to me.

What I observe in Nehemiah's prayer is how he prayed for what he knew and believed God would do according to His word and promises:  that God would be attentive to his prayer and the prayers of God's servants who turned to Him, and that Nehemiah would find mercy in the eyes of his king whom he served.  What is absent from Nehemiah's prayer is any request or suggestion what God could do to alleviate His servants who were afflicted and reproached.  He said nothing about how God help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem or mend gates burned with fire.  Nehemiah prayed as a man who knew God already knew about the situation and the desires of his heart and could do all that was required without help or suggestions.  Nehemiah simply requested to be heard, seen (despite many transgressions) and for mercy.

I wonder:  how many times do we pray to God like He is not God, that like others He must be informed of the dire situation at hand or listen to our suggestions about what He ought to do so what we deem necessary can be done?  Rather than praying according to what God could do, Nehemiah's prayer illustrates our need to pray in faith in alignment with what God has already said He will do.  Nehemiah spent the middle portion of his prayer reminding God what He had said in the Scripture, and he prayed for what God had already guaranteed.  This might seem an unnecessary thing, to pray that God will hear and see us when we know very well as the omniscient and omnipotent living God He will.  If we quickly skip over that bit because we assume it is true concerning God's character, it is possible we take that very thing for granted and thus neglect to pray according to God's will.

Taking the example of Nehemiah on board, this morning I prayed for things I already know are God's will according to His word, and I found it put me more in a posture to listen and wait than to speak.  God had already spoken concerning casting cares upon Him because He cares for me, and that mercy surrounds those who trust in the LORD as it is written in Psalm 32:10-11:  "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. ¹¹ Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"  The consideration of God's word before and during prayer brought a notable shift in the trajectory of my praying, for I prayed according to His promises rather than my felt needs.  Seeing God has promised to provide for our needs, though our faith be small (Matthew 6:30), we can pray God would provide for our needs with joy knowing we are heard and God has spoken!

What a great demonstration of faith and reminder Nehemiah's prayer is to pray to God knowing He is God, has spoken, hears and does according to His word.  What joy God endows His people with by faith in God and surrounded by His mercy:  a people heard, seen and loved of our almighty heavenly Father.