Stop and Pray
Prayers from Ezra and Nehemiah
So often, we go plodding on trying one thing after another to solve the problems we face. The church does the same thing. There is a new program or idea every week to save the world. This book is a call to Stop and Pray. God has the answers. He alone knows what will work.
These prayers for revival are from the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah. These books describe the revival that occurred through the rebuilding of the temple and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The Old Testament stories are examples for those of us alive in the last days. These two stories of revival give us ideas of what God wants to do today. The steps they took in obeying God give us insight into things we can pray for now. My comments on the verse is in normal type and a prayer from the verse in bold.
NEHEMIAH
Chapter 1
Most of the people in Jerusalem thought there was nothing that could be done to rebuild the city. When Nehemiah heard of the condition of Jerusalem, he wept, mourned, fasted and prayed for days.
Father, in many ways the church is in great distress and reproach. The walls have been broken down and the world has flooded into the church. Open our eyes to the true condition of the church and set us to fasting and praying for revival. 3-4
Nehemiah remembered that God had promised in 1 Chronicles 7:14 to heal and restore if His people would meet His requirements. The unchanging requirements are that God's people humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from their wicked ways. Nehemiah sets his heart to do just that.
Father, cause us to humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways. Hear our prayers. Stir us to pray day and night until revival comes. Work in us so we confess the sins of the church and our country and recognize where we have not obeyed Your word. 5-7
Nehemiah remembers that God had promised to scatter His people if they were unfaithful. He also remembered that God promised to gather them again if they would confess their sins and obey His word. He promised to bring them to the place where His name was or, in other words, He would bring them into His presence.
If only the church could realize how real the presence of God can be and how absent He is from most of what we call worship services. We also need to see how we have been scattered as a nation. We are scattered from our close relatives. The grandparents are usually far from the grandchildren. We are scattered as marriages are failing by the millions and the children are shuffled from one parent to the other.
Our worship of jobs, success, careers and the good life has cost the church dearly. It has also robbed the world of good examples since most church people look and act just like the world. The only difference is on Sunday. They sleep in. We sleep in church. They play golf. We play church. If we would seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then God would work through us in ways that would draw the world to Him.
Father, we have sinned and You have justly scattered us in many ways. We hardly know where to begin to come back or to help others come back to You. Jesus, our Shepherd and Redeemer, guide us in confessing where we have sinned. Lead us, Your sheep, back into Your ways and into Your presence. Make sure we truly do seek first Your kingdom and receive all You want us to have. Make us successful in all we do as we fully obey You day by day. 8-11