Is my prayer effective?

And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and disgrace, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire.” Now when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  I said...
Please, Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep His commandments: let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.  We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.  Remember, please, the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I have chosen to have My name dwell. ’ They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.  Please, Lord, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and please make Your servant successful today and grant him mercy before this man. - Nehemiah 1:3-11 (NASB)

This prayer represents one of Scripture's most moving confessions and intercessions before God. - John MacArthur

1. He began with worship
Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God

Prayer begins with God, not the problem.

2. He appealed to God’s character
who keeps the covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep His commandments

Strong prayer stands on who God is.

3. He confessed sin
I and my father’s house have sinned.

Honest prayer includes repentance.

4. He acknowledged specific failure
We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

Honest prayer includes specific confession.

5. He prayed God's Word
You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I have chosen to have My name dwell.‘

Powerful prayer is Scripture-shaped.

6. He prayed with compassion
They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand

Intercessory prayer involves compassion.

7. He made a clear request
Please, Lord, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, please make Your servant successful today and grant him mercy before this man.

Be specific with your request.

8. He submitted himself as the instrument
please make Your servant successful today and grant him mercy before this man.

Sometimes the answer to prayer is the one praying.

9. He was persistent
From the time he learned about the issue, until the time he was able to petition the king, was 4 months.

Can you remember a time that you have prayed a specific prayer persistently for 4 months?

The Lord is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him,
To those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word]. - Lamentations - 3:25 (Amplified Bible)

Effective prayer is persistent and waits on His timing.

Real prayer is not just asking God for something, it is about aligning the heart to God’s will, and preparing the heart to accept the answer that is given.

Lord God of heaven,
You are great and awesome.
You are faithful in all Your ways,
and You keep covenant with those who love You
and walk in obedience before You.
I come before You with humility,
asking You to hear my prayer
and to incline Your ear to my cry.
Father, I confess my sins before You.
I acknowledge the ways I have wandered,
the places where my heart has grown cold,
and the times I have trusted myself more than You.
Forgive me for what I have done,
and for what I have failed to do.
Search my heart
and reveal anything in me
that grieves Your Spirit.
Lord, remember Your promises.
You are merciful.
You restore what has been broken.
You gather what has been scattered.
You rebuild what has fallen down.
Take the ruined places in my life
and begin Your restoring work in me.
Give me wisdom for what is in front of me.
Give me courage where I have fear.
Give me discernment where I need clarity.
Give me favor where doors need to open.
Give me strength where I feel weak.
Help me not merely to pray about change,
but to become available for Your purposes.
Build in me what only You can build.
Restore my heart.
Renew my mind.
Strengthen my faith.
And let my life bring honor to Your name.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be Encouraged to pray with purpose and persistence.



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