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Nehemiah 1:4-11, 2:4, 4:4-5, 4:9, 5:19, 6:9b, 6:14, 9:5b-38, 13:14, 13:22b, 13:29, 13:31b
1.) Default to Prayer = 1:4-11.
Prayer is simply talking with God.
Genesis 1:28
Prayer in the Bible is assumed.
Matthew 6:5
When you are faced with difficult trials, unexpected news or hard times, what is your default reaction?
Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:19-22
Why wouldn’t we come to God in prayer FIRST?
2.) Emboldened by Prayer = 2:4.
Commitment to seeking God supplied Nehemiah with the boldness he needed for the next step.
Familiarity with God gives boldness in prayer.
Boldness in prayer supplies bravery for action.
Matthew 26:36-46
Prayer is where we prepare for what’s next.
Seeing prayer as a place of preparation is crucial to making it a regular and essential part of our daily life.
1Thessalonians 5:17
3.) Weaponizing Prayer = 4:4-5 and 9, 6:14, 13:29.
Our battle is not against flesh and blood.
Ephesians 6:12
People may be in our face, but they are not the problem.
God is more than able to defend me when I cannot defend myself.
Romans 12:20
We need to see prayer as the most effective tool to fight with.
When I pray, I am turning my attention from my problems to God.
4.) Surrendering Prayer = 5:19, 9:5b-38, 13:14, 13:31b.
Matthew 26:36-46, Psalm 37:4
Surrender is not about giving up; it’s about giving over.
Ineffective prayer is failure in trust.
Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:5-6
Surrender to God is trust in God.
5.) Prayer is a Verb = 2:4, 6:9b, 13:14, 13:22.
The activity didn’t stop the prayers, nor did the prayers stop the activity.
James 2:18
Do we trust Him enough to listen to Him?
God will never contradict His Word.
God HAS already spoken.
Every time you open the Bible you are hearing God’s voice.
Isaiah 55:11, 2Timothy 3:16 NIV, James 4:2, Matthew 7:7
If we never pray, we’ll never know the power of our Creator.