To explore the power of prayer, as demonstrated by Nehemiah, emphasizing adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication as key elements in communicating with God.
Good morning, beloved family of God. It is a joy to gather here, in this sacred space, where we are welcomed, not by our own merits, but by the boundless love of our Heavenly Father. It is in His presence that we find our true home, our true peace, and our true purpose.
I am reminded of a profound statement by the great preacher Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "Prayer moves the arm that moves the world." This statement is not just a beautiful metaphor, but a profound truth that we, as believers, have the privilege to experience daily. We have been granted the extraordinary privilege to communicate with the Creator of the Universe, to share our deepest fears, our greatest joys, our most profound questions. And not only does He listen, He responds. He moves. He acts. This is the power of prayer.
Today, we will be focusing our attention on Nehemiah 1:4-11. Let us read the words together [read text].
Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Word, a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we study the prayer of Nehemiah today, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to the power and the beauty of prayer. Teach us to adore You, confess to You, thank You, and supplicate before You, just as Nehemiah did. May our prayers be pleasing to You and may they draw us closer to Your heart. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
When we look at the prayer of Nehemiah, the first thing that strikes us is his profound reverence and adoration for God. He begins his prayer by acknowledging the greatness and awesomeness of God. This is not just a casual remark or a religious cliché. It is a heartfelt expression of Nehemiah's deep love and respect for God. He is not just praying to a distant deity or a higher power. He is praying to the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments.
This kind of adoration is something that we need to cultivate in our prayer lives. We need to make a conscious effort to include it in our prayers. It is not enough to just ask God for things or to thank Him for what He has done. We need to take the time to adore Him, to praise Him, to worship Him, to express our love for Him.
This kind of adoration is beneficial to us AND pleasing to God. He delights in our love, adoration, praise, and worship. When we adore God in our prayers, we are not just expressing our love for Him. We are also aligning our hearts with His. We are aligning our desires with His. We are aligning our wills with His. We are aligning our lives with His. This is the power of profound adoration in prayer.
This kind of prayer was part of Nehemiah’s daily prayer life. In good and bad times. In seasons of triumph and failure. Adoring God in prayer was part of his ordinary relationship with God.
Transition. When we do this, our prayers become more than just a routine religious exercise. They become a consistent expression of our love for God. They become a consistent time of intimate communion with our Heavenly Father. This kind of consistency is beneficial for us, our family, and our church. The Lord delights in our consistent heartfelt expressions of love and reverence.
Nehemiah's prayer is not just a casual conversation with God ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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