All week, we have been looking at the divine burden that God placed on the prophet Nehemiah’s heart. Nehemiah 1 tells us that Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king of Persia when he learned from a group of men who had come from Judah that the walls of Jerusalem were torn down, and this broke his heart. He wept and mourned for days (verse 3). Then, he prayed. He turned to God about the burden God placed on his heart. He began his prayer by writing about God's character. He wrote, "O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of unfailing love with those who love Him and obey His commands, listen to my prayer!" (verses 5-6a). This way of beginning His prayer reminded him of whom he was praying to. First of all, he was praying to the God of the universe who reigns in heaven over everything. Secondly, he was praying to a God who is always faithful and keeps his promises to his people. Acknowledging God's character set the tone for the rest of his prayer.
Nehemiah’s prayer to God, beginning with remembering God’s character, serves as an example for us to follow. When we come to Him in prayer for anything, including the divine burdens He places on our hearts, the best place to start is by remembering whom we are praying to. Jesus even taught us to begin our prayers this way in Matthew 6. He said, “Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy” (verse 8). When we pray, we, like Nehemiah, are praying to the God of the universe in heaven. He reigns supreme over all. He is in control of everything. Even more, he is holy. He is perfect. As a result, He deserves all of our trust and respect. This is the God we pray to every time to turn to Him in prayer. Remembering whom we pray to makes all the difference for us as we come before God in prayer.
When we begin our prayers by remembering whom we are praying to, we remember His great power and control over everything. He is in control of every aspect of our lives. He is in control of the divine burden that He has given us. Even more, He is holy and set apart. When we come to Him in prayer about anything, we can trust that He has the power to work in that area. Will you trust Him today?
Take a few moments now to follow in Nehemiah’s example. Before you pray about the divine burden God has given you, acknowledge who God is. Acknowledge, faithfulness, power, and holiness. Acknowledge that He is in control, even over the divine burden that He has placed on your heart.
1“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
10 May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today the food we need,
12 and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
13 And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.
14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
