A Leaders Prayer

Scripture: Neh. 1:8-9 Remeber, I pray, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.

After about seventy years of captivity under the Babylonian Empire, Israel was set free to return to their home, which was totally destroyed by The Babylonians. Nehemiah who remained in the kings palace was concerned about those who survived the captivity. When he questioned Hanani, one of his brethren from Judah. It was was told that Israel was in great distress and reproach. The old King James says; greatly afflicted which mean; suffering, pain or grief of the body and mind.

As leaders we must ferverently pray for God’s divine protection for the church. Just because we are free from sin, does mean that we would not be attacked by our enemy. To often we go unprotected in our spiritual walk with God. We somtimes think because I’m saved, thats it. But thats not it! Just like I as a father, I have to protect my children from outside opposition, so also we need God to protect us in our spiritual walk with Him from our enemies.

Israel was a nation that had a reputation that was respected and feared by all other nations because they had the Almighty God on their side. Nehemiah as a leader knew exactly why Israel was in distress. They needed to restore their relationship with God. So do we after leaving a life sin, we need to establish a relationship with God through prayer, fasting and reading the Word of God. An established prayer life with God can keep us from suffering from distress and repeoach. Nehemiah’s example of a leader teaches us that we should always pray for God’s divine protection for the church as a whole and not just for ourselves.

God said; If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sins, and heal their land (2 Chro. 7:14). Let us as leaders learn how to pray for the deliverance of others.