Four DECLARATIONS from the prayer life of Nehemiah that get results.
- Declare God’s goodness.
Neh. 1:5-6a Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.
Tell God and yourself just how awesome He is. Not only does God want to see and hear your faith, but you need to see and hear your faith. There is something powerful that happens when you begin to declare how powerful God is. You start to believe it at a whole new level.
- Declare your sins.
Neh. 1:6b-7 I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
It is important that we declare/confess our sins when we pray. Because unconfessed sin can cause God to not be able to hear us. Confess any known sin and even any unknown sin. Ask God to bring any unknown sin to your mind. Then you can confess it and be right with God.
- Declare the promises of God.
Neh. 1:8-9 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
Why did Nehemiah remind God of His promise? Does God forget? Does God need to be reminded? No. We forget and we need to be reminded.
- Declare your specific need.
Neh. 1:11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
It is important to make specific requests that align with God’s will and His nature. When you make specific requests, you will know when God answers. If you don’t ask specifically, how will you know when God answers?