Nehemiah 1 When Nehemiah's brother and some other men came from Judah to Susa, the capital,  the first thing that Nehemiah asked was about how those in Jerusalem were doing.  It grieved him greatly to hear of the "distress and reproach" in his beloved home country.  Nehemiah immediately began to mourn and then pray and fast before God on behalf of his people.  Nehemiah knew the Word of God and prayed according to God's promises.  His prayer is recorded here in verses 5-11.

"I beseech Thee, O God of heaven, the great and awesome God,

who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness

for those who love Him and keep His commandments,

Let Thine ear now be attentive and Thine eyes open to hear

the prayer of Thy servant which I am praying

before Thee now, day and night 

on behalf of the sons of Israel, Thy servants,

confessing the sins of the sons of Israel

which we have sinned against Thee;

I and my father's house have sinned.

We have acted very corruptly against Thee

and have not kept the commandments,

nor the statutes, nor the ordinances

which Thou didst command They servant Moses.

Remember the word which Thou didst command Thy servant Moses,

saying 'If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples;

but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them,

though those of you who have been scattered were in the remote

parts of the heavens, 

I will gather them from there and will bring them to the 

place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell'

And they are Thy servants and Thy people

whom Thou didst redeem by Thy great power

and by Thy strong hand. 

O Lord, I beseech Thee,

may Thine ear be attentive to the prayer of Thy servant

and the prayer of Thy servants who delight

to revere Thy name,

and make Thy servant successful today,

and grant him compassion before this man."

Nehemiah's prayer begins with acknowledging the glory and honor of God, just as the Lord's prayer does - "Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name."  He refers to the covenant between God and the people of Israel - God's will for His people and the kingdom that was promised them depended on the keeping of His commandments. 

Nehemiah's prayer includes confession - personal and corporate - acknowledging the sin of disobedience. 

Then, Nehemiah asks the Lord to remember His Word and the promise to bring them back, once again as His redeemed people. 

Lastly, Nehemiah asks for God to make him personally successful before the king. 

Four months later - four months of fasting and praying - Nehemiah's prayer is answered. 

Every prayer recorded in the Bible is an example for us.  This prayer is preserved for a reason.

We can use Nehemiah's prayer for our own appeals to our heavenly Father. 

Father, we beseech You, the great and awesome God, Who loves us and has made us Your own, through the new covenant, established by Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. 

Open Your ears and eyes towards us, and towards our prayers Lord God. 

We confess the sins, of our nation and of our families, and of our own.  We have sinned against You, Lord, acting corruptly. 

But, remember Your Word once again, O Lord, and as we return to You, gather us back to Yourself. 

O Lord, let Your people have open hearts to return to You and love You and serve You with all their heart and all their soul and all their strength. 

Hear our prayers for this nation and for the nations of the earth,  revive us again, O Lord, 

amen,