I get it. Sometimes knowing how to pray is hard. Our words don’t feel eloquent enough. Our thoughts feel too jumbled. Some days we’re so emotional, so overwhelmed by the weight of life, that we do well to form words at all.

God assures us that Holy Spirit knows our hearts even when our words aren’t the best or our thoughts are all over the place (Romans 8:26-27), God also knows that we desire to show Him how much we want to draw near to Him by being clearer and more intentional when we’re speaking with Him. Because He knows us and He wants us to grow, God gives us several prayers in His word that we can use as models. Today, let’s take some time to look at Nehemiah’s prayer. Here’s a little backstory:

Nehemiah was a Hebrew serving in the Persian royal court. Nehemiah was King Artaxerxes’ personal cupbearer. Though he wasn’t a prophet or a priest, Nehemiah’s heart is burdened for God’s city, Jerusalem. Despite heavy opposition and diverse obstacles, every step of his journey God provides exactly what Nehemiah needs right when he needs it. It’s an awesome testament to God’s faithfulness, and I encourage you to read Nehemiah if you haven’t read it before.

Nehemiah prayed the prayer below, found in Nehemiah 1:4-11, right after he learned that the wall of Jerusalem had been broken down and the gates destroyed by fire during the Israelites exile in Babylon. Shortly after praying, he asks the King to allow him to lead a group to rebuild the wall and gates.

4As 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. 
5 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, 6 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. 8 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.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 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 1:4-11

The humility and boldness that Nehemiah displayed as he approached his task has always impressed me. His action steps inspire me. Before he said a word to anyone else about his thoughts, he prayed,

1. Proclaiming God’s greatness and faithfulness to His people
2. Confessing wrong doing and asking for forgiveness, for all of God’s people and personally for what wrongs he had committed
3. Giving thanks for all that God had done and praising Him for it
4. Showing his belief in God’s promises by proclaiming them as truth
5. Petitioning God for success in his conversation with the king

What if we approached prayer the same way?

First, humble ourselves before the Lord, demonstrating that we understand He is God and we are not; proclaiming His greatness and faithfulness as evidenced through His word and through what we have seen, heard, and experienced ourselves.

Second, tear down any barriers that may be impeding our fellowship with the Him by coming clean with God about our fears, our sins, our doubts, and asking for forgiveness.

Third, thank God and praise Him for everything He has already done in our lives and the lives of others.

Fourth, demonstrate our trust in His promises by speaking them back to Him as solid truths; thank Him for specific Scriptures and promises that give us hope, comfort, peace, etc…

Fifth, lay our requests for assistance before Him boldly knowing He will answer them; humbly ask for success knowing that His will and way will lead us to it.

Sweet friends, the structure of Nehemiah’s prayer opens and closes in humility, but it also shows bold belief in God’s faithfulness. If you’ve been struggling with how to pray, consider trying the structure God shares in Nehemiah: Proclaim, Confess, Praise, Believe, Petition. God will appreciate the intentionality you’re bringing in wanting to talk with Him.