A MODEL PRAYER OF NEHEMIAH

Solomon, Doha.

 

Nehemiah was the cupbearer to Persian king Artaxerxes. It was a privileged position with responsibility. Nehemiah challenged his countrymen to arise and rebuild the shattered walls of Jerusalem. In spite of opposition from within and without, the task was completed in only 52 days. As we read the book of Nehemiah, we see him as a great reformer, an exemplary leader, a good initiator, a man of action etc. The most vital thing that can be said about him is that he was a man of prayer and this was the secret of all his successes.

In Chapter 1 Vs.4-11 we have a model prayer of Nehemiah which can be taken as a model for our prayers too. In his prayer we see the four essential elements of a prayer. It is said that a model prayer is required to have ‘ACTS’ i.e. Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

1.       Adoration

The first step of our prayer is adoration. A person who approaches  God in prayer sees the greatness and majesty of God. So he adores, give glory to God. Nehemiah’s prayer starts with adoration (1:5) we see Nehemiah adore God by the way he addresses God. He calls God " Lord God of heaven", "Great and terrible God", "One who keeps covenant and mercy". Nehemiah addresses God Yahweh Elohim. The owner of heaven, great and terrible God. We need to adore God for who He is (Dan. 4:34,34).

2.       Confession

Only when one who approaches God and sees His greatness will realise his inadequacy, unworthiness, and his shortcomings. So the next step is Confession. We see the confession of Nehemiah in his prayer. He confesses "We have sinned against You, both I and my father’s house, we have dealt very corruptly against You, not kept your commandments, statutes and judgements"(1:6,7). Confession is for reconciliation with God. We need to confess our sins before God in our prayers (1Jn. 1:9).

3. Thanks giving.

Thanks giving is the third step in our prayer. Thanking God for what has been done for us. God wants His people to be thankful to Him. Nehemiah’s heart was filled with gratitude because it is God who redeemed them from the  hands of their enemies. In his prayer Nehemiah acknowledges that it is God who delivered the people of Israel (Ch. 1: 10). We ought to pray with thankfulness (Col. 4:2, Phil. 4:6). If we fail to give thanks, it is as bad as fail to give glory to God (Lk. 17:17,18).

4. Supplication.

The last step of our prayer is supplication. Petition or payer request comes last in the order 1Tim. 2:13). Often we turn the order by making our petitions first. Often we forget to give glory to God, which is due to Him. After adoring, confessing and giving thanks one turns his request to God. Nehamiah prayed God for the permission to be granted from the king. But king grants him the army too. God gives us more than what we ask or think (Eph. 3:20).