February 11, 2010

• Lord, teach us to pray once again: the confession of Nehemiah (Neh. 1:4-11)

  
  Continuing on with another prayer from Nehemiah 1. (You may also wish to read through/pray the previous prayer based on Nehemiah's burden here.)

  As you prayerfully read the Scriptures and the prayer below, please ask God's Holy Spirit to examine your heart and open your eyes to your sin...

  Nehemiah 1:1  The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

  Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, 2  that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3  And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

  4  As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5  And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6  let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7  We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8  Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9  but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10  They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11  O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
  
  
  John 16:7  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9  concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
  
  12  “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

  
  Lord God, You have already taught us to pray...
  Yet we are so slow to learn...
  Father, have mercy on us.
  Forgive us, for Jesus' sake.
  Though we are slow to learn we come to You and ask us to teach us again...

  
  O LORD God of heaven, we are in great trouble and shame.
  O LORD God of heaven, how can we say You are our God if we continue walking in known sin?
  O LORD God of heaven, how can we say we are glorifying You if we continue walking in known sin?
  We confess we have not delighted to fear Your Name.
  Help us to delight to fear Your Name once again.
  Holy Spirit, come and examine the intents and motives of our hearts and minds through Your Word.

  You have not sent Your Holy Spirit as a cover for our sin but to uncover our sin.
  You have not sent Your Holy Spirit to comfort us in our sin but to cause us discomfort over our sin.
  You have not sent Your Holy Spirit to allow us to remain unholy but to make us holy as You are holy.
  You have not sent Your Holy Spirit to allow us to conform to this world but that we might be transformed into Christ's image.

  We confess our sins before You.
  We confess our unfaithfulness to You.
  We confess we have not brought glory to You.
  Our sin brings You no glory.
  Our unfaithfulness brings You no glory.
  We are Your People by Your sovereign grace alone.
  You keep covenant with us only because You chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.
  You keep covenant with us only because of Your grace shown us while we were yet sinners and Your persevering grace to us.
  You have be faithful, we have been wholly unfaithful.
  We are returning to You today and appealing to Your covenant mercies poured out for us in Your Son Jesus Christ.
  We have no other appeal, no other plea, but His precious blood.
  Our Father, forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  Through Your Holy Spirit, work in us what we cannot do:
  Place into us a fear for Your Name, a desire to live holy lives and the power to live as a people holy to You so we might bring You the glory due Your Name.

  O Lord, let your ear be attentive ... to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name...
  

  O LORD God of heaven, we are in great trouble and shame.
  O LORD God of heaven, how can we say You are our God if we continue walking in known sin?
  O LORD God of heaven, how can we say we are glorifying You if we continue walking in known sin?
  We confess we have not delighted to fear Your Name.
  Help us to delight to fear Your Name once again.
  Holy Spirit, come and examine the intents and motives of our hearts and minds through Your Word.

  As Your people, when we sin and say it doesn't matter, we corrupt Your grace.
  As Your people, when we sin and say it doesn't matter, we presume upon Your covenant mercies.
  As Your people, when we sin and say it doesn't matter, we bring reproach on Your Name.
  As Your people, when we sin and say it doesn't matter, we bring shame to Your holy Name.

  We confess our sins before You.
  We confess our unfaithfulness to You.
  We confess we have not brought glory to You.
  Our sin brings You no glory.
  Our unfaithfulness brings You no glory.
  We are Your People by Your sovereign grace alone.
  You keep covenant with us only because You chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.
  You keep covenant with us only because of Your grace shown us while we were yet sinners and Your persevering grace to us.
  You have be faithful, we have been wholly unfaithful.
  We are returning to You today and appealing to Your covenant mercies poured out for us in Your Son Jesus Christ.
  We have no other appeal, no other plea, but His precious blood.
  Our Father, forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  Through Your Holy Spirit, work in us what we cannot do:
  Place into us a fear for Your Name, a desire to live holy lives and the power to live as a people holy to You so we might bring You the glory due Your Name.

  O Lord, let your ear be attentive ... to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name...
  

  O LORD God of heaven, we are in great trouble and shame.
  O LORD God of heaven, how can we say You are our God if we continue walking in known sin?
  O LORD God of heaven, how can we say we are glorifying You if we continue walking in known sin?
  We confess we have not delighted to fear Your Name.
  Help us to delight to fear Your Name once again.
  Holy Spirit, come and examine the intents and motives of our hearts and minds through Your Word.

  As Your people, when we try to be righteous in our own power, rather than trusting in Christ's righteousness, we corrupt Your grace.
  As Your people, when we try to be righteous in our own power, rather than trusting in Christ's righteousness, we presume upon Your covenant mercies.
  As Your people, when we try to be righteous in our own power, rather than trusting in Christ's righteousness, we bring reproach on Your Name.
  As Your people, when we try to be righteous in our own power, rather than trusting in Christ's righteousness, we bring shame to Your holy Name.

  We confess our sins before You.
  We confess our unfaithfulness to You.
  We confess we have not brought glory to You.
  Our sin brings You no glory.
  Our unfaithfulness brings You no glory.
  We are Your People by Your sovereign grace alone.
  You keep covenant with us only because You chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.
  You keep covenant with us only because of Your grace shown us while we were yet sinners and Your persevering grace.
  You have be faithful, we have been wholly unfaithful.
  We are returning to You today and appealing to Your covenant mercies poured out for us in Your Son Jesus Christ.
  We have no other appeal, no other plea, but His precious blood.
  Our Father, forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  Through Your Holy Spirit, work in us what we cannot do:
  Place into us a fear for Your Name, a desire to live holy lives and the power to live as a people holy to You so we might bring You the glory due Your Name.

  O Lord, let your ear be attentive ... to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name...

  Please add your prayers as His Spirit leads you.
  

  
  

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