This is how Nehemiah approached God in prayer
KJV Psalms 66:16-20
16. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
19. But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
20. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
(((If we come to God with iniquity on us, and we know about certain sins we’ve committed without effort of letting go, God will not hear us. We must work on all sins that we know of. Therefore when we pray, his ear will be attentive to us. Let’s continue.)))
KJV Nehemiah 1:1-7
1. The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
2. That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
(((The children of Israel destroyed because of sinning continually.)))
4. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
(((Nehemiah mourning because of the destruction and affliction.)))
5. And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:
(((Pump your breaks. Nehemiah is glorifying God. Then he mention that, he keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments. Food for thought, his mercy is measured by how well we keep his commandments, ref. John 14:15. Let’s continue.)))
6. Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.
7. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.
(((Nehemiah is acknowledging and confessing all the children of Israel’s sins, including himself, because he said “we have sinned”.)))
8. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
(((Nehemiah didn’t regard iniquity, he tells God the reason why they’re suffering captivity, great affliction and reproach. Some might say, “why should I have to tell God, he already know”. God want to hear it come out of our mouth. Note: When it’s not a group prayer that your attending, but a personal prayer, sometimes we’re in places where people are around when we want to pray, we shouldn’t openly pray out loud to God before many people concerning something personal, so..it’s okay to pray within your mind, if you can’t at that present time enter a room, closet, or space that’s empty with no one there. ref. Matthew 6: 1-6)))
9. But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
10. Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
11. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.
(((Nehemiah ended his prayer with his request from God. He ended saying this, “let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to “fear” thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him “mercy” in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.” He was looking for, “mercy.”
How to approach God when praying.
Prayers 1-4 done in order
1. The Lords Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, KJV Matthew 6:9-13
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever.
In Jesus name
Amen.
2. Glorify God (example)
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
You’re powerful and perfect.
Your knowledge, wisdom, and
understanding excel above all heavens.
In Jesus name, Amen.
3. Acknowledge and confess your sins (example)
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
I’m a sinner, I’m nothing.
I’ve lusted, committed sins,
and thought wickedness.
I have no excuse for sins.
Yet and still I desire your laws,
statues, judgements, commandments,
and precepts. I repent my sins.
If it be thy will, forgive me for my sins,
In Jesus name, Amen.
4. End with your prayer request to God (examples)
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Father, I’m in need of peace, direction,
and strength to endure people provoking
me to anger. If it be thy will grant me this,
In Jesus name, Amen.
or
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Father, I’m in need of help on how to manage my money
and how to discern what I need
and what desires I want that can wait until
after my needs are met. I’ve been spending my money foolishly
If it be thy will, give me that extra strength to not pursue
my wants before my needs.
In Jesus name, Amen.
or
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
I’ve been selfish, disobedient, and not humble.
My fear towards you has decreased.
If it be thy will, humble me,
whatever way you see fit, so that my fear
towards you will excel to an extreme height and
forever more. In Jesus name, Amen.