Passionate God-Centered Prayer
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First, he bases his prayer on God's character and grace.
Nehemiah 1:5 (ESV) And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
Nehemiah knows that God is great, awesome and faithful. And he let's the Lord know that he believes that. We need to remind ourselves to base our prayers on God's character so we don't get caught up in trying to earn His favor. God answers not because we are good, but because He is good.
Second, he acknowledges his need for forgiveness.
Nehemiah 1:6–7 (ESV) let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.
Confession is key to any effective prayer. Why? Because our sins keep us from God. Our sins separate us from Him (Isaiah 59:2). But when we confess, God forgives (1 John 1:9). We confess our sins to offer up to God our dependency upon Him. He alone is our Sovereign to Whom we are accountable.
Third, he reminds God of His Word.
Nehemiah 1:8–9 (ESV) Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’
Now, this is not to suggest that God forgets His word. It is to suggest we forget it. And we forget it a lot. But Nehemiah doesn't let that happen. He reminds God of what he promised to do. He lets God know He was aware of the covenantal terms between He and His people. God would bring them back if they would return to Him.
Fourth, he boldly asks for what he needs.
Nehemiah 1:11 (ESV) O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Note, that this part of the prayer comes AFTER Nehemiah does the first three things based on God's glory, character, and promises. He doesn't just rush into asking for things. But when he does ask, he asks boldly. He asks for success and God gives it to him. I think this is perhaps the best news for us in prayer. God will give what we ask when we ask with a dependant, contrite heart for the purpose of God to come to pass as we seek to serve His purposes.
In Sum: Nehemiah starts by centering his mind and life in God, then seeks God's provision to accomplish with God's help what God promised He would do. We can attain the promises of God today when we come in the same way through the blood of Jesus to the throne of God's grace.
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