Continuing on with another prayer from Nehemiah. (You may also wish to read through/pray my previous prayers here and here.) This incident in Nehemiah 2 takes place about four months after Nehemiah first heard of the state of Jerusalem and the exiles who'd returned from there: “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”  (Nehemiah 1:4).

Nehemiah 2:1  In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2  And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3  I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4  Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5  And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.”

James 1:22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

I John 3:16  By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17  But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

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...

Our Father,

How often do we hear of a need, but then soon forget? How often are we like those people in the James passage who hear but then go away and forget?

Like Nehemiah,
we have heard of the trouble and shame in the Church,
we have seen the broken down wall and gates which have been destroyed by fire,
we have been burdened to pray and fast...
but then we have gone away and forgotten what we had seen.

For a time we have prayed, but then we forget to pray.
We have looked into the mirror, but then gone away.
Forgive us Father, for being only hearers of Your word and not doers.
Forgive us for quenching and grieving Your Spirit.
Forgive us our sin, O Lord God, for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Your Spirit has shown us the ruins in the Church.
We could only see them as You opened our eyes to see.
Your Spirit has burdened us and called us to pray.
We could only pray because You opened our ears to hear You.
But then we have gone away and forgotten what we have seen and heard

For a time we have prayed, but then we forget to pray.
We have looked into the mirror, but then gone away.
Forgive us Father, for being only hearers of Your word and not doers.
Forgive us for quenching and grieving Your Spirit.
Forgive us our sin, O Lord God, for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Burden us again.
Open our eyes.
Open our ears.
Open our hearts.
Give us a new vision of Your holiness.
Show us once again the ruins in each of our lives and in Your Church today.
We are in great trouble and shame yet today.
Should we not still be burdened?
Should we not still be sad?
Make us intercessors after Your heart.
God forbid that we do not pray for ourselves and for Your people.

For a time we have prayed, but then we forget to pray.
We have looked into the mirror, but then gone away.
Forgive us Father, for being only hearers of Your word and not doers.
Forgive us for quenching and grieving Your Spirit.
Forgive us our sin, O Lord God, for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

O, Redeemer,
We are Your people but we continue to be in great trouble and shame.
You have seen our great trouble and shame.
Surely You are burdened and sad today.
Surely You are grieved.
Surely Your Spirit has been quenched.
Increase our love for You.
Increase our love for Your people.
May we not love in word but in deed and truth.
May we return to our closets and continue to intercede for Your Church.

For a time we have prayed, but then we forget to pray.
We have looked into the mirror, but then gone away.
Forgive us Father, for being only hearers of Your word and not doers.
Forgive us for quenching and grieving Your Spirit.
Forgive us our sin, O Lord God, for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Loving Father,
You loved not only in word but in deed.
You loved us and sent Your Son Jesus Christ to die for us while we were sinners.
The Lamb of God laid down His life for us to take away our sins.
He rendered Himself up for us as an offering for our sin.
He gave His all for us.
You have purchased us with His precious blood to live to You.
We are not our own, we have been bought with a price.
May we honor and love You with our all.
Put into us a willing heart.
May the desires of Christ be our delight.
May we love You and love the Your people like You.
May we love not only in word but in deed.
Make us willing to give all for You, to love like You have loved us.
May we not forget what we have seen.
May we be doers of the word and not hearers only.
Send us as You will.
May we walk in the way of our Savior.
May we lay down our lives, rather than try to save them.
May we render ourselves up to You.
May we give our all for You.
Use us as You will to rebuild the city, the city of Jerusalem, Your Church.
Send us and use us how and where You will so Your Church might be rebuilt.
Send us and use us how and where You will so Your Name might be a praise and glory in Your Church.

For a time we have prayed, but then we forget to pray.
We have looked into the mirror, but then gone away.
Forgive us Father, for being only hearers of Your word and not doers.
Forgive us for quenching and grieving Your Spirit.
Forgive us our sin, O Lord God, for Jesus' sake.
Cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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...

God of heaven,

Your servant Nehemiah was burdened over the state of Your people:

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.

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...

God of heaven,
We see how Your servant Nehemiah was genuinely concerned and burdened about the fate of his brothers and sisters, Your people.
We confess we are often not genuinely concerned and burdened about our brothers and sisters, Your Church.
We confess we are often only genuinely concerned and burdened about ourselves.
We confess we are not heavenly minded.

Our Father in heaven, forgive us for Jesus' sake.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for You, Your Name and Your glory.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for Your Church.
Give us eyes to see the broken down walls and the burned gates in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in our own lives today.

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...

God of heaven,
We see how Nehemiah was genuinely concerned and burdened about Your Name and Your glory.
We confess we are not genuinely concerned and burdened about Your Name and Your glory.
We confess we are often concerned and burdened about our names and our own glory.
We confess we are not heavenly minded.

Our Father in heaven, forgive us for Jesus' sake.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for You, Your Name and Your glory.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for Your Church.
Give us eyes to see the broken down walls and the burned gates in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in our own lives today.

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...

God of heaven,
We see how Nehemiah reacted when he heard of his brothers' and sisters' trouble and shame.
We confess we often turn a deaf ear to the trouble and shame of Your Church.
We confess we are often more excited about worldly matters, sports and entertainment than the state of Your Church.
We confess we are not heavenly minded.

Our Father in heaven, forgive us for Jesus' sake.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for You, Your Name and Your glory.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for Your Church.
Give us eyes to see the broken down walls and the burned gates in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in our own lives today.

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...

God of heaven,
We see how Nehemiah sat down and mourned for days before You over Your people.
We confess we barely sit down and mourn for a moment before You, much less days.
We confess we find it easy to down and engage in time-wasting activities for days on end...and another week passes...and another...
We confess we are not heavenly minded.

Our Father in heaven, forgive us for Jesus' sake.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for You, Your Name and Your glory.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for Your Church.
Give us eyes to see the broken down walls and the burned gates in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in our own lives today.

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...

God of heaven,
We see how Nehemiah continued fasting and praying before You.
We confess we find it difficult to fast and pray at all, not to mention continuing to do so.
We confess we find it easy to feed our flesh and speaking and listening to others rather than seeking Your face in prayer.
We confess we are not heavenly minded.

Our Father in heaven, forgive us for Jesus' sake.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for You, Your Name and Your glory.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for Your Church.
Give us eyes to see the broken down walls and the burned gates in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in our own lives today.

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...

Forgive us, Holy Father, for Jesus' sake. We come before You and confess our apathy. How often Your children, our very own brothers and sisters, are in dire need, and yet we turn away because they are far away from us, we forget their difficulties, their struggles to survive, the persecution they endure daily for the sake of Your Name. We see how Nehemiah had a heart for his brothers and sisters even though they were far away from him. Give us a heart for our brothers and sisters, Your children, all over the world.

Our Father in heaven, forgive us for Jesus' sake.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for You, Your Name and Your glory.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for Your Church.
Give us eyes to see the broken down walls and the burned gates in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in our own lives today.

Forgive us, Holy Father, for Jesus' sake. We come before You and confess our apathy. How often our brothers and sisters nearer to home are in dire need, and yet we turn away because we are apathetic and uncaring and are focused on seeking our own kingdoms; we worry about what we will eat, what we will drink and what we will wear, we worry more about our comfort and convenience rather than seeking first Your Kingdom. We sometimes forget that if we are Yours, we are called to be on mission right where we are. We forget we are Your priesthood sent out into the world, even when that world for us is our neighbor next door.

Our Father in heaven, forgive us for Jesus' sake.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for You, Your Name and Your glory.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for Your Church.
Give us eyes to see the broken down walls and the burned gates in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in our own lives today.

Forgive us, Holy Father, for Jesus' sake. We come before You and confess our apathy. How often our brothers and sisters are in dire need, and yet how we are unable to see the need because we have lost the sense of Your glory. We worry more about looking socially acceptable and numerical growth. We are in great trouble and shame because we have not lifted up Jesus Christ and Him crucified and have failed to remain rooted in the apostles' doctrine and prayer. We confess we have relied on our own resources rather than the power of Your Holy Spirit. So long as we continue to remake You, the Lord Christ, His Gospel and the Church after our own image we will be remain in great trouble and shame.

Our Father in heaven, forgive us for Jesus' sake.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for You, Your Name and Your glory.
Restore to us a jealous and zealous love for Your Church.
Give us eyes to see the broken down walls and the burned gates in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in Your Church today.
Break our hearts at what is happening in our own lives today.