Every session has a point—what each participant should walk away from the discussion knowing, feeling, and doing.

• Main Idea: We can pray to God humbly and boldly when we encounter tragedy or fail to represent him well.
• Head Change: To know that we represent God and have access to him through prayer.
• Heart Change: To feel reverence toward God when approaching him.
• Life Change: To respond to our brokenness and suffering by praying bold and humble prayers.

When have you had to ask someone for something you needed­—like a ride to the airport, a new job, or wise advice? How did you feel before that conversation, and how did the conversation go?

 Asking for something can be a humbling experience. We may fear we are imposing on others or burdening them with our problems. But often, the help we need comes when we make simple and direct requests. And, when it comes to our relationship with God, he wants us to ask for help in big and bold ways.

The Book of Nehemiah begins with jarring news, prompting Nehemiah to ask for God’s help. His bold prayer led to the reconstruction of Jerusalem and God’s people. What reconciliation could our prayers bring about? In this session, pastor and author Dr. Eric Mason will break down Nehemiah’s prayer, teaching us how to pray to God when we are facing challenges, tragedy, and chaos in our lives.

Read Nehemiah 1:1–11.

Show Session 1: Nehemiah 1:1–11 (14 minutes).

The Book of Nehemiah was written at the end of an extended period of exile. Seventy years before the time of Nehemiah, Israel was disobedient to God and was removed from the Promised Land and taken into captivity. But despite his people’s actions, God remained faithful and began bringing his people back into the broken city of Jerusalem to restore and rebuild. In what ways has sin left your city and its people broken or in need of restoration? In what ways would you want to see God redeem and rebuild your city?

Read Nehemiah 1:1–4.

The book of Nehemiah starts with a problem: Jerusalem’s walls had been broken down, making the already feeble city even more susceptible to attacks from enemies. Upon receiving the news of the city, Nehemiah wept. When the people and places we love are damaged, we, like Nehemiah, should mourn. What people and places that need restoration are close to your heart? What do you think it looks like to faithfully mourn their broken situation?

Eric reminded us that we are God’s representatives, and our actions, words, and attitudes should reflect him. But often, we fall short. When God’s people are in disarray, the world will not see a clear picture of God’s will, Word, and love. How well do you think the church is representing God today? In what ways are we in disarray? In what ways are we representing God well?

Nehemiah’s initial response to the news of Jerusalem was to pray. Eric said, “When you’re dealing with a lack of clarity in representation, you need to go back to the one you represent.” When are you most likely to pray? In what ways are you praying for the church and God’s will to be done in your city?

Read Nehemiah 1:5–7.

Eric emphasized that the first and most important component of Nehemiah’s prayer is acknowledging God. We need to be enthralled with the one we represent. What attributes of God captivate you the most? What would it look like to appropriately praise God in prayer before anything else?

After Nehemiah acknowledged God and his greatness in verse 5, he humbly confessed sin to God in verses 6 and 7. When we see God for who he is, we cannot help but see our own sin in comparison. If we are to actively represent our holy God, we need to consistently confess and turn from our sin. When do you think we need to repent of our sins? What do you think it looks like to repent in front of God and those we have sinned against?

 In what ways do honest confession and repentance represent God to those who do not know him?

There are two aspects of Nehemiah’s confession: personal sin (“I and my father’s family”) and corporate sin (“Israelites”). He owns up to what he and his family had done as well as Israel’s guilt. This section of Nehemiah’s prayer might feel counter-cultural for us today. We feel the need to shift blame to others rather than owning up to our portion of the problem, and often reject the need to take responsibility for other people’s sin. What difference do you think it would make if we completely owned our personal sin? What difference would it make if we completely confessed and repented of the church’s corporate sins and errors? 

Eric made a point to say that, since we are God’s representatives on earth we should repent of our divisiveness. He said we’ve allowed small disagreements in the church to take us off mission. Do you agree with his assessment? Why, or why not?

In what ways are the divisions of our culture present in the church?

Nehemiah’s acknowledgment of God caused him to have a posture of humility, but it also prompted him to pray with boldness.

Read Nehemiah 1:8–11.

Nehemiah asked God to remember the promises he made to his people through the Mosaic Covenant, which God gave to Israel after he rescued them from slavery in Egypt. Nehemiah could pray boldly to God because he knew God loved his people and desired for them to be restored. In what ways does understanding God’s love for you impact the boldness of your prayers?

Nehemiah prayed using passages from the book of Deuteronomy in verses 8–10. His boldness before God was rooted in his knowledge of God’s Word. When we know who God is, we can rightly approach him and praise him in truth. Take a moment to go back to Deuteronomy to read the verses Nehemiah referenced. What verses do you know that describe who God is? 

The prayer ends with Nehemiah asking God for success as he prepares to talk to the king about the issue in Jerusalem. Do you believe it is okay to ask God for success in something you are about to do? Why, or why not?

Eric said that Nehemiah’s prayer is an example of effective prayer. Why would Nehemiah’s prayer be considered effective? What elements of his prayer are commendable?

What are you praying for right now? What can you implement from Nehemiah’s example of prayer into your own prayers?

Where do we turn when we face tragedy or when we fall short as God’s representatives? God wants us to come to him—he is all-powerful and loving, eager to hear from his people. Nehemiah gives us a great example of what it looks like to go to God in prayer in the wake of difficult news and impossible situations. We can approach God boldly and humbly, as Nehemiah did, and know God hears us and will respond.

This week, turn to God in prayer. Use Nehemiah’s prayer as a template for your conversation with God and take notice of how he answers you.