Praying with Purpose and Patience

Intro Questions:

How long do you expect it to take for God to give you what you ask for in prayer?

How many times do you bring something important before God in prayer?

What kinds of things do you think deserve constant and deliberate prayer?

Study Text: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Nehemiah 1:1–11 ESV

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 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, 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. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 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.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 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.

The Purpose of Nehemiah’s Prayer

Verses 8-11

Nehemiah wanted to remind God of His promises and pray in accordance to God’s promises and His will.

We learn in chapter 2, that Nehemiah wanted to go to help with the reconstruction of the wall around Jerusalem.

Nehemiah knew that this was something that God wanted, and he prayed that he could be a part of the fulfillment of God’s promises.

What are some things that we can pray for that line up with this same purpose? What are some of God’s promises that we can pray to be a part of?

The Pattern of Nehemiah’s Prayer

Verse 5 — Praise

Verses 6-7 — Confession

Verses 8-10 — Alignment of request with God’s Will

Verse 11 — Request

Take note of the thought that went into Nehemiah’s prayer. Take note of the fact that the prayer was 90% Nehemiah aligning Himself with God through praise, confession, and remembering God’s Word. Then it was 10% request.

Our prayers are 10% alignment (got that out of the way)

90% request (what we really want to talk about)

What do we need to remember that will help us keep prayer heavy on us realigning with God’s will and light on request?

The Patience of Nehemiah’s Prayer

From Chislev in Nehemiah 1:1, to Nisan in Nehemiah 2:1, there is a period of about 4 months.

So consider this, verse 4 is a period of 3-4 months. Nehemiah didn’t hear this news, pray and expect God to answer the next day, or the next week, or the next month. He prayed and fasted for at least 3 months before he went before the king.

This gave Nehemiah time to evaluate his initial desire when he prayed. It might not have been, “Let me go and help in Jerusalem.” at first. It might have been, “Lord, they need help. They need protection. Give them what they need.” We don’t know what it started out as, we only know how it ended.

God may not even answer your prayers in a period of 4 months or 4 years. But do you give up? NO!

In Nehemiah’s case, prayer was a period of transformation for him. Think about something that you are praying for right now. Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are praying completely within God’s will for that particular issue?

“I’m praying that a friend or loved one would be saved. Of course I’m praying within God’s will.”

Are you praying that God would do whatever it takes to save that person, even if it includes heartache or loss? Are you praying that God would give you words and opportunity and courage to speak to these individuals?

“Lord, help our church grow.” Vs, “Lord, how can I help our church grow?” or “Lord, is this something that I can do for Your church?” 0r, “Lord, I’m going to step up and help here, please encourage me if this is where you want me, bless me as I serve here regardless, and show me where to go next, if this is not where you want me.”

Pray for Alignment in Your Prayer Life.