5 Days of PrayerНамуна

PRAYER FOR GOD’S MISSION

It would be hard to overstate just how tragic the exile of the Jewish people from their homeland of Israel (roughly 400BC) was. This was God’s chosen people…they were supposed to be a beacon of hope to the world around them, a picture of what a people led by our good and loving God could be. But, generation after generation turned their back on God, and just as he had warned them, God allowed the nation of Babylon to come in, destroy their country, and deport the people as prisoners and slaves. 

This is where we meet Nehemiah. He is serving as the human poison-tester for the king of Persia (not a glamorous job…if you have a bad day at work, you die). Nehemiah had never set foot in the promised land, but he loved God and longed for his people to be restored to their former status as a thriving nation – a beacon of hope for the world. A few of his countrymen had been allowed to return to the land, and this is the report he gets from one of his brothers: “People have moved back home, they’re hanging in there, but the city is a mess and they're completely defenseless.” Not at all what God wanted for his chosen people!

And that’s what broke Nehemiah’s heart. You see, he wasn’t fixated on wanting a better life for himself or to rise to some position of importance…he wanted God to be famous! And he felt that God’s reputation seemed to be on shaky ground with this city still in shambles. So, Nehemiah broke down, fell to his knees, and let out this passionate and beautiful prayer that takes up most of the first chapter of this book. As you read it today, notice the different sections and the depth of what he prays. Nehemiah doesn’t just say, “God, this makes me sad, please fix it!” He confesses his and the nation’s collective guilt - he doesn’t blame God. He proclaims God’s faithful promises from the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy - not to remind God, but essentially to ask God to do what he had already promised to do. And then he ends asking God to help him do his part – he wasn’t just waiting for God to wave a magic wand; Nehemiah was willing and ready to get his hands dirty and be part of the solution. 

As we approach God, we should strive for the same posture. We all have our own guilt to deal with before God, and he is always gracious and willing to forgive us. And when our hearts are aligned with what God already wants to do (just like Nehemiah knew what God had already promised), we can be confident that God will be for us in our requests. And whenever possible, we don’t just sit back and ask God to drop whatever we’re asking for in our laps. Is there some way we should be actively involved? For example: It doesn’t do much good to keep praying for God to reach one of your friends who’s far from Jesus if we’re not willing to also step up and share Jesus with them. So, how can you pray more like Nehemiah today?