Have you ever prayed for someone in a way that you were absolutely desperate for God to intervene? This type of intercessory prayer is not like seeing a friend in passing and telling them you will pray for them and then going about with your day. It is not the casual prayer you voice for others on their behalf asking the Lord to provide for their well-being or some other ongoing need. 

No, I mean a life or death, urgent, God you have to do something, this is an emergency kind of prayer. A prayer filled with pain and empathy for another. A prayer that is selfless and devoted. A prayer that causes you to hit your knees so hard you have bruises and cry so uncontrollably your face is red and puffy. How often do you pray a prayer like that?

Those are the prayers that really move us. Those are the prayers that really change who we are as people. 

Some years ago, we were living in Raleigh, NC and had reconnected with a friend my wife and I went to college with. We had been very close back in college. In fact, he and I lived in the same house. We were even accountability partners for a while. 

Now we were in a new stage of life. Both of us married – me with two kids and him with one on the way. And we were living in the same town again and going to the same church. We were in the same small group as well so we saw each other multiple times a week. Our wives even worked together. In short, this family and our family were doing life together. 

But one day while at work I got a call from him that things had quickly taken a turn for her and the baby. She had preeclampsia and needed to go into surgery right away. It was much too soon for the baby to be born and they weren’t sure either she or the baby would survive the day. The situation was dire. 

So naturally I did the only thing I could do that was any help. I prayed. I prayed with hundreds of other believers that day desperately on behalf of their family. One of my best and dearest friends had started the day with his wife and unborn son and could very possibly go to bed that night as a childless widower. There was nothing to do but pray. Wait and pray. 

In today’s Scripture passage, we find a man who is brokenhearted. Not for himself, but for His people and for his country. Nehemiah was in exile. Jerusalem had been sacked and Israel scattered. Nehemiah remembered the Lord and inquired about his homeland. We pick up his story in Nehemiah 1:1.

“The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:

News from Jerusalem

During the month of Chislev in the twentieth year, when I was in the fortress city of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile. 3 They said to me, “The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned.”

Nehemiah’s Prayer

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of the heavens. 5 I said,

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, 6 let your eyes be open and your ears be attentive to hear your servant’s prayer that I now pray to you day and night for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins[a] we have committed against you. Both I and my father’s family have sinned. 7 We have acted corruptly toward you and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances you gave your servant Moses. 8 Please remember what you commanded your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. 9 But if you return to me and carefully observe my commands, even though your exiles were banished to the farthest horizon,[b] I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have my name dwell.” 10 They are your servants and your people. You redeemed them by your great power and strong hand. 11 Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to that of your servants who delight to revere your name. Give your servant success today, and grant him compassion in the presence of this man.[c]

At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.”

Nehemiah was no prophet He was no priest. Nehemiah was a layman – an average joe. But he was deeply concerned for his people and his beloved city. 

His concern turned into a prayer. His prayer turned into an opportunity which turned into a position of prominence and influence. His prayer was the catalyst for a movement among God’s people. 

In his prayer, Nehemiah acknowledges 3 factors that model for us how to pray for others and our situations.

1. God’s Power.

If we follow the model of Nehemiah’s prayer, our petitions to God should start with declaring to God who He is. Nehemiah prayed, “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,”

We may pray something like, “God Almighty, Creator, Sustainer, Miracle Worker, Wonderful Counselor, Abba Father, Friend. Your mighty works are known throughout all generations and I see you working in my own life. You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Thank you for listening to my prayers.”

It’s a little wordy but every word is a reminder of how great God really is. The more I sing God’s praises the more love of Him I possess. And you are speaking directly with Him. You aren’t reminding Him of who He is. You are reminding You of who He is. Declaring God’s personhood, his character, and his actions to Him centers your heart on the God you are speaking to. Acknowledge God’s power in your prayers. What you acknowledge is what you have access to. 

2. God’s People and Their Problem of Sin

Nehemiah prayed, “I confess the sins[a] we have committed against you. Both I and my father’s family have sinned. 7 We have acted corruptly toward you and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances you gave your servant Moses.”

We may pray something like, “I confess my sins to you today, Lord. I’ve neglected your commands and disobeyed your law. My sin has separated me from you but you have made a way for my salvation through Jesus Christ.”

If sin is what separates us from God, let’s get it out in the open right away. It’s the elephant in the room so to speak. Have you ever had an issue with someone that needed to be dealt with and you start up a conversation and no one wants to acknowledge it and the tension builds. Let’s eliminate that from our relationship with God. Deal with your sin. Get right with God and get on with your prayer. Don’t let your sins stifle your prayer life. 

3. God’s Promises

Nehemiah prayed, “Please remember what you commanded your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. 9 But if you return to me and carefully observe my commands, even though your exiles were banished to the farthest horizon,[b] I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have my name dwell.” 

We may pray something like, “You promised to never leave us or forsake us. You promised you would make your ways known, Lord. You promised to give us rest in the arms of Jesus. You promised you would fight for us. All your promises in Christ Jesus are Yes and Amen.”

Once again, reminding God of His promises is not because He has forgotten but because we so easily forget them. And they need to take root in our hearts. 

That’s why we pray. So God’s promises take root in our hearts. Once our prayers have taken shape, we can start living out the promises of God.

That’s what Nehemiah did. He started living out God’s promises. Nehemiah’s influence did not end when he said “Amen.” In fact, it was just beginning. 

He stepped up and did something about the situation. And eventually, He and Ezra led the Israelites to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem and experience a revival among God’s people. 

Our prayers are powerful but they must be accompanied by action. 

The family I mentioned earlier experienced a happy ending, in part because of the way God’s people intervened on their behalf in prayer. The baby was born and spent 100 plus days in the NICU growing and thriving before finally going home. My friend’s wife also survived and made a full recovery. 

In the days of their hardship, we did all we could to serve them. Meals and gift cards. Words of encouragement. Hugs and embraces. Little things like that can add up to mean a lot. 

Let your prayers and petitions be made known to God. Recall the promises of the Lord. And then get up and do something. Sometimes our actions are the very answers to someone’s prayers. 

I’m talking about faith in action. Pray with faith and then act out in that faith you just prayed with. 

Reread the story of Nehemiah this week. Nehemiah was a servant in exile who became a great leader who helped usher in revival to the people of Israel. And God used him when he started praying. 

Who is affected by your prayers? Whose life is different this week because you prayed for them? Are you heartbroken over your land and your people like Nehemiah was? Does it move you to pray? 

I hope it does. I hope it moves you to pray powerfully. And to work diligently. And to serve selflessly.