My prayer based on Nehemiah’s prayer

So. Nehemiah. He hears terrible news about his people in Jerusalem. He cries. He grieves. He doesn’t eat. And then he prays this prayer –

Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favour in the presence of this man.  Nehemiah 1:5-11

He reminds himself of who God is

Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God…….

He reminds himself of what God has done

God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments…..

He asks God to listen

Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying…..

He prays persistently

…..the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.

He confesses what he has done wrong

I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.

He reminds God of His promise to His people

Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses……They are your servants and your people……

He asks God to listen again

Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant…….

And then he asks for God to help him get involved

Give your servant success today by granting him favour in the presence of this man.

This seems like a great model to me.

So what would my prayer look like, based on this model?

God, you are amazing. Truly incredible. Beyond words. The Creator, the sustainer, the giver of life.

You made each one of us and loved us from the very beginning. You have been there with each one of us every step of the way.

God, hear my prayer.

I won’t stop praying. I can’t stop praying.

We have made a right mess of everything. I’ve really screwed up. Look at the state of the world. Look at the state of my life. We did that. I did that. We thought we knew best. We thought we could do it our way. 

I really don’t understand why but I know you love us. You love this world and everything in it and everyone in it. You said so. ‘God is love.’ You’ve proved time and time again throughout history how much you love us and want the best for us.

So God, hear my prayer. Listen to me right now.

And show me what I can do to help. Show me how I can be involved. Give me what I need to do what you want me to do.

Amen. Let it be so.

What would your prayer look like?