Nehe – who? Nehemiah. The book of Nehemiah is in the Old Testament. Nehemiah was the Jewish cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes l. The cup bearer was an officer of high ranking in the royal courts. This person was trusted to protect the royal family and guests from possibly plots against them. It was his duty of fill the kings cup and present it to him personally. He guarded the cup against poison and was sometimes required to swallow some of the wine before serving it. All of this meant that he was close to the king and this proximity gave him some influence with the king. So what is so important about Nehemiah, a cupbearer from 2500 years ago? He was an amazing prayer warrior!
I like to think of myself as a prayer warrior. But compared to Nehemiah, I’m more of a prayer corporal, like the timid Corporal Upham in the 90’s movie “Saving Private Ryan”. I am inexperienced in the field and easily distracted by my emotions and other things. I pray for others but not sure if I really pray like I am in a spiritual battle. A warrior is experienced in battle and highly trained (knows God’s word).
So, what makes Nehemiah this great prayer warrior? He is in constant conversation with God. Nehemiah actually DOES the verse written in Philippians 4:6-7 (before it was written) “6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Notice it says to pray “about everything,” not “about only the big things”, not “only the serious things”, not “the things I am capable of handling and don’t need to bother God about”, but in EVERY thing. Do you believe this today? And if you believe it, do you do it? Really? I didn’t even truly try till I saw Nehemiah’s example.
What do you worry about?
I worry about anything and everything. I even worry about what I am going to cook for dinner. Silly, right? But it really stresses me out. It is a skill that does not come naturally to me and I have no passion for it. I saw preparing dinner like waiting for a shot at the doctor’s office. Before I read about Nehemiah, did I ever pray to God about it? Ummm, NOPE! In my mind, God has bigger things to do than worry about what the Bentson’s are having for dinner. After I read about Nehemiah, I prayed about dinner. Because what we do is truly what we believe. And you know what, God changed my perspective. The worry went away. I gave Him the reins to this little thing in my life. “I surrendered all!” which in my simple life, includes dinner. Is it gone forever? No. But now I pray whenever worry or anxiousness sets in about it, which in the beginning, was everyday except when we ordered pizza for dinner (yay!) and now it is every so often because after giving it to the Lord, I saw preparing dinner as a blessing and privilege. I prepared dinner with thanksgiving. And, as a bonus and probably the point to it all, I saw God’s character and love for me revealed through that. Let’s look at some examples of how Nehemiah prayed and when he prayed from the book of Nehemiah.
AFTER RECEIVING BAD NEWS Nehemiah heard bad news about his hometown of Jerusalem. They were in great trouble. Nehemiah wept, mourned, fasted and prayed. His prayer in Nehemiah 1:4 starts off by giving praise and glory to God. He talks to God. He gave glory to God even in bad news, confessed sin, and asked God for help. He included God in his plans. Check out his prayer in Nehemiah 1 : 4-11.
DURING A STRESSFUL CONVERSATION Nehemiah prayed through the conversation. Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king. It’s a thing and a big deal. The king noticed Nehemiah was sad and asked him what was wrong. He was afraid to tell him but courageously confided with the king that his hometown had been destroyed. Then the king asks him, ” What is it you want?” With little time to think, Nehemiah prayed to God and answered the king. He asked the king for time off work (12 years), he asked for security for safe passage (the king’s army officers and calvary, letters from the king to other rulers), and he asked for supplies (wood from the king’s forest). Nehemiah was faithful and put the expected results in God’s hands. Nehemiah 2:4-10
AFTER REJECTION Nehemiah was trying to rebuild his destroyed city of Jerusalem. Sanballat, governor of Samaria, heard they were rebuilding and he became irritated and angry. He threatened Nehemiah and plotted to go and fight and stir up trouble against Jerusalem. He mocked him and threatened him with physical violence. What did Nehemiah do? First, he prayed. They are mocking you God, you decide what to do. Nehemiah expressed his anger to God, but did not take matters into his own hands. Nehemiah 4:4-5
Remember this also, O my God! Have compassion on me according to your great and unfailing love.
Nehemiah 13:22
AFTER THREATS OF VIOLENCE BY ENEMIES Sanballat and his allies were coming to pounce. What did Nehemiah do? Nehemiah prayed, we are in your hands God. And then he made preparations. He put up a guard to stand watch day and night. He put guards around the vulnerable parts of the city. He was ready. They kept their weapons ready in case God want them to use them. Nehemiah showed that he trusted God while taking steps to be prepared for action. Neh 4:9
RESPONDING TO THREATS Nehemiah was being slandered and intimidated from Sanballat and his allies. They threatened to tell lies to Nehemiah’s boss, King Artaxerxes l, that could have cost him his life and ruin his good relationship with the king. They even paid prophets to prophesy against him, trying to lure him into doing the wrong thing. They thought Nehemiah was weak. What did Nehemiah do? Nehemiah prayed for strength. He relied on God for emotional and mental stability. Neh 6:9
THOUGHTS ON WHAT ENEMIES ARE DOING Nehemiah heard what his enemies were doing that was not upright and just. Instead of taking matters into his own hands and rebuking them or talking to his friends about it what did Nehemiah do? He asked God to deal with them and their evil plans. God took away his compulsion to get revenge and trusted justice to God. Neh 13:29
THOUGHTS ON HIS OWN EFFORTS AS GOD’S SERVANT Many times throughout Nehemiah, he is called to do hard things, lead others, hold people accountable for their actions and make unpopular decisions. He would sometimes begin to question is what I am doing what God wants me to be doing? Am I doing this for my glory or for God’s? What did Nehemiah do? Nehemiah prayed, “Remember me with favor, O my God.” (Neh 13:31) Nehemiah prayed and this kept his own motives clear for action. He was checking himself with God. He was taking captive of his destructive thoughts of doubt and fear. He was giving credit to God for the work. (Neh 5:19, 13:14, 22, 31)
Back to my dinner stresses,
I saw God was in the details. He cares about every little thing that affects me. I was focused on the quality of the food and my inabilities. That’s not the point. It’s about the blessing of family time together and God’s capabilities and His provision. To me, preparing dinner was a reminder of another way I was failing. God doesn’t want our performance, He wants our heart. He wants relationship. Dinner is the only time my family is all together most days. Most times the stress and worry about preparing dinner did not create an atmosphere of relationship-building with God or my family. I can be honest with God about my frustration and it doesn’t change who He is. I can ask Him for His help with dinner and His hand will be in that – the results and glory are His. I can be open about my weaknesses and He gives me strength and power and help. But only if I ask and I give it to Him…all of it. Isaiah 65:1 says, “The Lord says, ‘I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.'”
So, are you going to pray like Nehemiah? Are you going to take everything to the Lord? Share with me what you stressing over and worrying about. Will you commit to take these things to the Lord in prayer? He will go to battle for you, in the big things and the small things, He will transform your heart and purify your motives, for He is faithful and He is mighty and He has already won the victory. He is ready to respond. Will you call on Him?
Praying for you all. Until next time…God be with you.
The Lord says, ‘I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a natino that did not call on my name.
Isaiah 65:1
kim bentson 