Pray and Work, the Inspiring Example of NehemiahSample

Nehemiah pleaded God's covenant faithfulness

“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’” (Nehemiah 1:5-6)

The Lord God is greater than we can imagine. We can never fully know and understand Him. But He has made Himself known to people. For example, He revealed Himself to Moses as “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty...” (Exodus 34:6-7).

Further on in the story of Moses and Israel, we read how the people had sinned greatly. God wanted to punish them by wiping out the entire people. But Moses stood up for them by reminding the Lord God of His own words about patience, kindness and forgiveness (Numbers 14:17-18). And the Lord listened to him!

Daniel and Nehemiah prayed in a similar way. They began their prayers by naming God's covenant faithfulness. That was the unfailing ground on which they could plead for their people no matter what happened.

Basing your prayers on God’s character as He has made Himself known, is a powerful tool to align your prayer with God's will! Do you do that? How do you put that into words?