Simple Prayers - Sept. 13-17 (Refuge & Strength Series)

9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 6:9 ESV

Nehemiah was surrounded by enemies, people who wanted to destroy him all around him.

He was protected by walls around the city, walls that he helped create, but it wasn’t finished. He was afraid, probably anxious and he prays a very simple prayer:

“God, strengthen my hands.”

He didn’t fast or sanctify himself for a week. His prayer was simple.

It’s easy for us to forget that prayer can be simple, prayers from the pulpit can be long and cover many areas. There are lots of people, many bases to cover, but in our intimate relationship with God. When it’s just us, when we’re praying for a family member or a close friend.

It’s okay to keep it simple.

“Lord, help me.”

“God, help me be happy.”

“I need you God.”

“Please.”

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Romans 8:26 ESV

Your spirit is already praying for you, always, and constantly when we don’t know how. But it’s important to not complicate our prayers, to make them count, not with fancy phrases or sayings. Mostly, what matters is what’s in our heart.

What happened with Nehemiah’s prayer?

15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Nehemiah 6:15-16 ESV

God gave him strength but he also gave him the victory over all of his enemies. Notice what they perceived out of this amazing accomplishment.