PRAYING SUCCESSFULLY

 

PRAYING SUCCESSFULLY

Nehemiah 1:1-4

Do you struggle with praying? Do you have more “unanswered” prayers than you do answered ones? Do you get frustrated and wonder if God even hears your prayers? Do you not pray because you don’t believe it will do any good? Nehemiah 1 gives us some things to consider when we pray. It is my prayer that you will be encouraged to pray more and trust the Lord to answer your prayers as we ponder these truths.

In verses 1-4, we notice something very important if we our prayers are going to be effective, we must be broken in spirit. I suspect we aren’t as broken before God as we should be.

Is your heart broken over the things going on around you? If you follow the news, you are bombarded with all sorts of negativism. We hear all the time how bad things are. We see horror stories of rising crime. We hear of people abusing people. We hear of people doing others harm to other people and property. People everywhere are living in uncontrolled anger. Does it bother you? Are you bothered enough to pray about it? If not, you should be praying about your lack of concern over it.

Is your heart broken by the things going on in your life? Do you complain about how bad things are, or do you talk to the Lord about it? Is you life a mess? Are you seeking the Lord’s help? Do you lack vigor in your faith walk? Have you told the Lord about it? Are things going badly for you in your family or with your health? Are you sharing your problems with the Lord?

Let me ask you another question. Is your heart broken to the point where you mean business when you pray? On a personal basis, it means you are willing to change and be an instrument of change in your situation. Are you willing to let the Lord take charge of your life? Are there things 5you need to repent of?

Notice how Nehemiah responded. For days his heart was burdened. He fasted and prayed. When was the last time you were so burdened over anything that you were burdened over it for days and sought the Lord’s help? Until you are broken in spirit, not much is going to happen when you pray.