‘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.” (Nehemiah 1:11a ESV)
How to Pray
Nehemiah was desperate. He knew his people suffered under foreign rule, and exile. He knew that God had promised a return to the Promised Land, and no evidence of that return was observed. He knew that the people of God, already having wandered from God with the resulting exile, were now wandering further.
And so Nehemiah used his best strategy and tactics.
He prayed.
Particularly, he prayed humbly. Nehemiah made no demands. He did not glare at God, demanding God’s attention. He did not push loudly… but Nehemiah prayed to God humbly, making the context of his prayer God Himself. “ Your” servant. “Your” servants, “Your” servant.
Particularly, he prayed personally. Nehemiah, even in his flowery language, spoke to God personally. He had a conversation with God. He expressed his fear, his hope, and his confidence in God.
Particularly, he prayed clearly. Nehemiah was not vague in his prayer. Nehemiah outlined his relationship with God, his specific need from God, and his clear hope in God, and God alone.
Pray like Nehemiah.