We are nearing the end of our study in the book of Nehemiah.
Today we look at the longest recorded prayer in the Bible. The prayer of Nehemiah 9 is a great example of worship-based prayer.
So much of our prayer can be based in other things – in our needs, our desires, even good things we seek in the lives of others.
There’s nothing wrong with prayers of petition and intercession – but the heart of prayer rises above this world to find its heartbeat in worship.
Worship-based prayer is Word based prayer. The prayer, starting in verse 6, is a response to the public reading of the Word recorded in verse 3. Basing our prayers in the Word of God shifts our thoughts and desires according to the eternal truths of Scripture.
Worship-based prayer is God-centered prayer. Every sentence from verse 6-15 begins with “you” as the subject. It’s all about God. I count 24 references to the character and ways of God in this prayer. I’m sure there are more. Prayer which centers in worship settles the mind and fills the heart with faith. Only after rehearsing God’s mercies for 26 lines does the prayer turn to the problem at hand. By then, the praying heart is ready to talk about its troubles with proper perspective.
Worship based prayer is authentic and repentant prayer. As the light of God’s mercy grows brighter, so does the revelation of our sin. The history of revival in the church is a continual repetition of this realization:
- God is great and good!
- We are not great or good.
- God is merciful to sinners.
- We will repent and trust in his great mercies.
Tom Brown is the planting pastor of Vintage Faith Church in Wichita. Tom and his wife, Mandy, have worked together in ministry for 18 years and have four children. More about Pastor Tom Brown