PRAY REVERENTLY

Nehemiah, an Israelite, was the trusted servant of a Persian king. While living in the foreign city of Susa, Nehemiah received devastating news about conditions in Jerusalem. The city’s “wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned” (Nehemiah 1:3). In response to this heartbreaking news, Nehemiah “sat down and wept” and “mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of the heavens” (Nehemiah 1:4).

Nehemiah’s prayer is recorded in the remaining portion of the first chapter of the Book of Nehemiah. His request appears in the final verse. “Please, Lord … Give your servant success today, and grant him compassion in the presence of this man” (Nehemiah 1:11). Nehemiah asked God to soften the heart of King Artaxerxes so that the king would allow Nehemiah to travel to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls and city gates (Nehemiah 2:5).

It was an audacious request.

Did God answer Nehemiah’s prayer? What can we learn from this prayer? If it is a model for proper praying, what do we learn about the kind of prayers that God answers?

Nehemiah was accustomed to entering the throne room of an earthly king. He didn’t rush into Artaxerxes’s royal chambers with demands, so he didn’t barge into God’s presence making demands. He didn’t say, “Do this. Do that. Or do the other!”

Nehemiah prayed reverently, humbly addressing the covenant-keeping God. “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” (Nehemiah 1:5).

Jesus taught us to reverently address our prayers to “Our Father in Heaven” whose name is “honored as holy” (Matthew 6:9). Paul addressed “the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Timothy 1:17).

We mustn’t pray to “the man upstairs” or One we consider to be our equal. We pray to God! All-Mighty God. All-Knowing God. Always-Present-Everywhere God. The “God of the heavens.” He deserves to be awed. He deserves our worshipful reverence.

Do you want God to answer your prayers? Try praying like Nehemiah… Pray reverently. 

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).