Nehemiah. One of the real ‘greats’ in the Old Testament. So often pointed to as a great leader who did incredible things in the face of incredible opposition, but Nehemiah was also a man who prayed. Nehemiah was a man who relied on the strength of God and was humble enough to realise he could not do this alone. He was a man who continually acknowledged the Great and Mighty God and had a relationship with God based on prayer.
Nehemiah 2:4 says, “𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆, ‘𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕?’ 𝑺𝒐 𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏.” Nehemiah had just spent 4 months in prayer over the wretched state of Jerusalem and its people. He had beseeched the LORD, he had fasted and even begged the LORD to remember His promise to His chosen ones.
Now, here Nehemiah was, in front of the King, prepared by his 4 months in prayer before the LORD, when the God of Heaven moved on his behalf and opened a door of opportunity. “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵?” At that moment, Nehemiah knew that he needed his Father’s help, so he shot out a quick and silent prayer. He knew that his prayer would reach the attentive ear of the Lord in the same second he breathed it.
Psalm 66:9 says this, “𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅; 𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓.” God listens attentively when we pray, but not only that, he attends to our prayers. I love what the dictionary says about ‘𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦’; all ears, enrapt, hanging on every word, heedful, interested, watchful. God is interested in what you have to say to Him, even enrapt. The thought that our Great and Mighty God might hang on to every word I say is a knowledge too wonderful for words. The LORD God of Heaven attentively listens to what you say, even to what you silently speak in your mind.
Nehemiah knew that God was listening at all times, never slumbering or sleeping, he knew He would not let his foot slip, that the God of Heaven was watching over him, ready to help him at this pivotal time of need. We don’t know exactly what Nehemiah prayed at this moment, just that he did. Perhaps it was simply, “𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘮𝘦!” After all, he had but a second to pray. But from this brief entry, we can see the heart of Nehemiah, we can see his humility – “𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘓𝘖𝘙𝘋.” We can see his faith – “𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.” We can see that Nehemiah was a man who put prayer first.
Nehemiah knew God would listen attentively to his prayer and act on his behalf. And He did!
Claire's Prayer 