Are you facing a big client, a proposal, or maybe a job interview?

I am – everyday.  I’m looking for my next career move, and as I prepare for the inevitable interviews, I can’t help but get nervous.

But, it’s just HR, a hiring manager, or my next potential boss.  What if it were someone even more fearsome… like the king of the land?

That’s what Nehemiah is facing here, and he handles it with ease!

“I took up the wine and gave it to the king.  Now I had not been sad in his presence.  So the king said to me, ‘Why is your face sad though you are not sick?  This is nothing but sadness of heart.’  Then I was very much afraid.  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?’  Then the king said to me, ‘What would request?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven. I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”  Nehemiah 2:1b – 5

Prayers Answered

Nehemiah, the cup bearer, had already asked God for this situation to happen.  Remember back in vs 11 of chapter 1.  Nehemiah asked for success and compassion before ‘this man.’  Presumably, he’s referring to the king.

Overcome by sadness through the day, he lets his guard down in front of the king, and the king has compassion on him asking why he’s so sad.

Nehemiah tells him and the king is still compassionate – asking the question Nehemiah was hoping for!

Prayers in the Moment

Nehemiah, caught in the situation of great significance knows that he can’t get this wrong!

Before Nehemiah answers the king, he prays!  Scripture doesn’t tell us anything more than that he “prays to the God of heaven.”

Were his prayers said out loud?

Did he mutter his prayers under his breath?

Did he think his prayers in his head?

It’s hard to know from scripture, but I think we can safely infer that he only thought them.  After all, in the presence of a king,

Prayers to the first King first

Notice that Nehemiah prays to the God of heaven, honoring His position, just as he had done in step one of his four part prayer in chapter one.

Nehemiah knows who’s in charge and he answers to Him first – reaching out to God for help in responding to the king.

In doing so, he recognizes God’s sovereignty over himself and the king he’s speaking with.

Prayers for all Times

What big event do you have coming up?  A job interview or review?  A big presentation?  An important meeting?  I urge you to pray to the God of heaven and ask for His guidance.

Go with Courage

After Nehemiah prays to the God of heaven, he doesn’t beat around the bush with his request.  Instead, he asks boldly for what he wants, with respect to the position of the person he’s talking too.

Pray to the God of heaven before your next big thing, and then go with courage knowing that the God you serve is larger than anything or anyone in front of you.

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