What is it you do when you hear something that grieves you or hurts you? Do you try and sleep it off thinking it's a bad dream? Do you blame God and choose to avoid him? Do you resort to measures that will help you forget about it? Do you simply delegate the responsibility of praying to your pastor and church?

Chapter 1 v4 says when Nehemiah heard these things, he sat down and wept and then fasted and prayed for "some days". He heard the news in the month of Kislev and Chapter 2 starts in the month of Nisan which means he was praying for this specific matter for atleast 3-4 months. Chapter 1 v6 says he was praying day and night.

Nehemiah was a man of prayer. He not only prayed the long prayers for 3-4 months, he also prayed quick specific prayers before taking any action. In Chapter 2 v 3-5 we see Nehemiah praying a quick prayer while he was having a conversation with the king. In Chapter 6:9 we see Nehemiah again praying a quick prayer asking God to strengthen his hands when he was confronted with fear and negativity.

Because of the prayer life Nehemiah had, he had the confidence that God's gracious hand was with him. (Chapter 2 v18.

Nehemiah was living a comfortable life and had a job in the king's palace. He need not have bothered about what was happening in Jerusalem and could've continued with his life in Babylon. But instead of choosing to ignore the plight of his people, he mourned and prayed and fasted for them. Not just for a day or 2, but for months.

Are our prayers limited to just our personal needs or are we burdened for the people around us who are in great trouble and disgrace?

(This article was written during the lockdown due to corona pandemic)