Breakthrough Prayers: Favor in a Foreign Land (Nehemiah) - Part 7
Main Text: Nehemiah 1:1-11; 2:1-8
Nehemiah's prayer is a powerful example of how to approach God when you are burdened about a situation you cannot fix by yourself.
Before Nehemiah asked the king for permission to rebuild Jerusalem, he spent time seeking God. His prayer follows a pattern we can use when praying for our families, churches, careers, and personal breakthroughs.
What Do You Do When Your Breakthrough Is in Someone Else's Hands?
Have you ever needed something that was not completely in your control?
You needed someone to approve the loan. You needed someone to hire you. You needed someone to recommend you. You needed someone to promote you. You needed someone to give you permission.
You had the ability, but you needed the authority of someone else.
Nehemiah was in that kind of situation. He was a Jewish man living in a foreign land, and Jerusalem, the city of his ancestors, had been destroyed. The walls were broken down, and the gates had been burned.
Nehemiah was not a construction worker standing in Jerusalem. He was the king's cupbearer. His assignment was in the palace, but his burden was in a broken city.
Sometimes God will give you a burden for something you do not yet have the authority to change. And when that happens, you need more than a good idea. You need breakthrough prayer.
Nehemiah teaches us that God can give you favor in a foreign land, access in an unfamiliar environment, and opportunity through people who do not even know your God.
The Report
Nehemiah 1:1-3 (AMP) 1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year [of the Persian king], as I was in the capitol of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them about the surviving Jews who had escaped and survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, "The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its [fortified] gates have been burned (destroyed) by fire."
What Nehemiah heard:
- The people are in great distress
- The walls have been broken down
- The fortified gates have been burned down
Point 1: A Burden That Leads to Prayer
Nehemiah 1:4 (AMP) 4 Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying [constantly] before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah's burden was not just about a broken wall. It was about the condition of God's people and the reputation of God's name.
Key Lesson: A God-given burden can reveal a God-given assignment.
There are some things you cannot stop thinking about. You see a need, and something inside you says, "I need to do something about that."
Not every desire is from God, but some burdens are invitations from God. Nehemiah did not immediately run to the king. He first went to God.
Breakthrough Prayer: "Lord, show me what You are calling me to do. Give me clarity about the burden You have placed in my heart. Help me distinguish between a temporary desire and a divine assignment."
Point 2: Worship - He Recognized Who God Is
Nehemiah 1:5 (AMP) 5 And I said, "Please, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,"
Nehemiah recognized God as:
- The Lord of Heaven
- Great and awesome
- Faithful to His covenant
- Loving toward those who love Him
Key Point: Before you focus on the size of your problem, remind yourself of the greatness of your God.
Your prayer should begin with God's ability, and not your inability.
Point 3: Confession of Sin
Nehemiah 1:6 (AMP) 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You, day and night, on behalf of Your servants, the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob), confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; I and my father's house have sinned.
1 John 1:9 (AMP) If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises] and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].
Key Point: Before asking God to change your circumstances, ask Him to search your heart.
Point 4: Remind God of His Word
Nehemiah 1:7-9 (AMP) 7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Please remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful and violate your obligations to Me, I will scatter you [abroad] among the peoples; 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered are in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen for My Name to dwell.'
Nehemiah was not trying to convince God to do something He had never promised. He was appealing to God's covenant faithfulness.
Key Lesson: Prayer is not just asking God for what you want. It is aligning your request with what God has said.
Point 5: Relationship - He Reminded God That His People Belong to Him
Nehemiah 1:10 (AMP) 10 Now they are Your servants and Your people whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.
Point 6: Request - Ask Specifically for Favor and Success
Nehemiah 1:11 (AMP) 11 Please, O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [reverently] fear Your Name [Your essence, Your nature, Your attributes, with awe]; and make Your servant successful this day and grant him compassion in the sight of this man [the king]." For I was cupbearer to the king [of Persia].
Nehemiah prayed for success before he approached the king.
Pray before the meeting. Before the interview. Before the application. And before the conversation.
Point 7: We Must Have a Ready Answer
Nehemiah 2:1-4 (AMP) 1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was placed before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not [previously] been sad in his presence. 2 So the king said to me, "Why do you look sad when you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart." Then I was very frightened, 3 and I said to the king, "Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?" 4 The king said to me, "What do you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Proverbs 16:1 (AMP) 1 The plans and reflections of the heart belong to man, But the [wise] answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
You cannot control the other person's response, but you can invite God into your preparation, your words, and the opportunity.
Preparation means:
- Knowing what you want to ask for
- Understanding the problem you are trying to solve
- Knowing the resources you need
- Being prepared to explain your vision
- Understanding what the person with authority can provide
Nehemiah had a burden, but he also had a plan. When the king asked, "What do you request?" Nehemiah was ready.
Church Application
- Some people are praying for a promotion but have not prepared for the responsibilities of the position.
- Some are praying for a new job but have not updated their resume.
- Some are praying for a business opportunity but have not developed a business plan.
- Some are praying for a career transition but have not learned the skills required for the next level.
Prayer does not replace preparation. Prayer makes your preparation productive.
A Powerful Statement: You cannot pray your way out of preparing. But you can pray while you prepare, and God can give you favor when the opportunity arrives.
Before the meeting, pray: "Lord, give me wisdom. Help me say what needs to be said. Let me communicate with clarity, humility, and confidence. Give me favor with the person I am about to speak with."
Nehemiah 2:5 (AMP) 5 I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your presence, [I ask] that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, so that I may rebuild it."
Key Lesson: Prayer gives you courage to ask for what the assignment requires.
Some people are praying for God to open a door, but they are afraid to knock.
Nehemiah teaches us that prayer should produce action. Faith does not mean you are never afraid. Faith means fear does not get the final word.
Ask yourself:
- What conversation have I been avoiding because I am afraid?
- What opportunity have I been praying about but have not pursued?
- What request do I need to make with wisdom and courage?
Nehemiah 2:6 (AMP) 6 The king, beside whom the queen was sitting, asked me, "How long will your journey take, and when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me, and I gave him a definite time [for my return].
Your breakthrough may not come from someone who looks like you, believes like you, or comes from where you come from. Nehemiah's breakthrough came through a foreign king.
Point 8: Expect God to Exceed Your Expectations
Nehemiah 2:7-8 (AMP) 7 Then I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the provinces beyond the [Euphrates] River, so that they will allow me to pass through until I reach Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, so that he will give me timber to construct beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the temple, and for the city wall and for the house which I will occupy." And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Key Lesson: God can provide the resources connected to the assignment.
- Sometimes you pray for a job, but God gives you a job with benefits.
- You pray for a promotion, but God gives you a position with greater influence.
- You pray for a business opportunity, but God gives you the partnership and resources to execute it.
- You pray for a door to open, but God also gives you the people and tools you need to walk through it.
Ephesians 3:20 (AMP) 20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,
When you receive the promotion, give God glory. When you get the new job, give God glory. When the business grows, give God glory. When you transition into a new career, give God glory.
The 8-Part Nehemiah Prayer Model
- Burden - Bring the problem to God.
- Worship - Recognize God's greatness.
- Confession - Examine your heart and acknowledge sin.
- Word - Remind yourself of His promises.
- Relationship - Remember that we belong to God.
- Request - Ask specifically for favor and success.
- Preparation - We must have a ready answer.
- Expect God to Exceed Your Expectations
3 Takeaways
- Prayer prepares your heart. Nehemiah spent days seeking God.
- Prayer prepares your opportunity. He was ready when the king asked him what he wanted.
- Prayer prepares your request. He knew what he needed and asked for it.
Breakthrough Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus,
We thank You that You are the God who gives favor in foreign lands. You are the God who can open doors that no person can shut. You are the God who can position us for opportunities we could not create on our own.
Today, we bring our employment, promotions, career transitions, and business opportunities before You.
Lord, give us wisdom. Give us preparation. Give us courage. Give us favor with the right people. Give us the ability to communicate our vision clearly. Help us recognize the doors You are opening.
And when the opportunity comes, help us walk through it with humility, excellence, and faithfulness.
We pray for those who are unemployed. Give them strength, wisdom, and opportunities to pursue.
We pray for those who are underemployed. Open doors for greater opportunity and meaningful work.
We pray for those who are seeking promotion. Help them prepare for greater responsibility and serve with excellence.
We pray for those who are transitioning careers. Give them clarity, courage, and the right opportunities.
And Father, when You open the door, help us remember that the good hand of our God was on us.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Discussion Questions
- Burden: Nehemiah could not stop thinking about Jerusalem's broken walls. What need or situation keeps weighing on your heart? How can you tell whether it is a passing desire or a God-given assignment, and what would it look like to take that burden to God in prayer this week?
- Worship: Nehemiah began his prayer with who God is before he ever mentioned his problem. Think of a challenge you are facing right now. Which attributes of God (His greatness, His faithfulness, His covenant love) do you most need to remember as you pray about it? Try opening your next prayer with worship and notice what changes.
- Confession: The sermon says, "Before asking God to change your circumstances, ask Him to search your heart." What might God want to show you about your own heart, habits, or choices as you pray about your current situation?
- Preparation: "You cannot pray your way out of preparing." What are you currently praying for, and what practical step of preparation (updating a resume, learning a skill, writing a plan, rehearsing a conversation) have you been putting off? Choose one step you will take in the next seven days.
- Courage and Expectation: Nehemiah asked the king boldly, and God gave him more than he requested. What conversation or request have you been avoiding out of fear? Who could pray with you and hold you accountable to take that step, and how will you give God the glory when the door opens?