Short Prayers

Nehemiah 2
In the split second before he responds to the king, Nehemiah prays. This sharply defines for us the meaning of prayer. Prayer is not ‘prayers’, as in phrases read or recited in the hope that God will bless us for our efforts. Prayer is connection. It is asking. Nehemiah simply cried out to God silently from his heart. “Lord, this is it! Help!”

Christians inject these silent prayers into their conversation and circumstances all day long. Certainly there are times when we pray at length, explaining some need to God, recalling his promises and expressing our thanks and worship to him. But these injected prayers are more like breathing to us.

Paul spoke about praying without stopping (“pray without ceasing”) meaning that his thoughts and wishes were constantly open to God all day long. It is as if we deliberately channel our thoughts through Jesus Christ for him to check them for wisdom and to add his providences and miraculous touches to make his thoughts our thoughts and his ways our ways. Nehemiah ‘prayed to the God of heaven’ then answered. He went to a higher authority than the King of Persia and submitted his ideas at that throne so that he might speak within the frame of that will.

We must always do this: look above and behind even the scariest person who believes he or she holds our wellbeing or future in his or her hands. Recognise that your God has their will and capacity in the palm of his hand. They can move not one millimetre without his permission. This is the secret of living confidently and victoriously: to seek and to see God first and above every person or circumstance you face. Commit your concerns to the God of heaven because from there he determines the times, places and capacity of each person. This is why we pray. This is how we overcome the fear of man. He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Heb 13.5,6