Finding Hope Through Prayer in Troubling Times

Devotional

Day 1: Mourning and Weeping Are Valid Responses to Bad News

When Nehemiah received the devastating news about Jerusalem, his immediate response was to mourn, weep, fast, and pray. This teaches us that it is okay to express our grief and sorrow when we face difficult situations. Mourning and weeping are natural and valid responses that allow us to process our emotions before turning to God in prayer and fasting. In our own lives, we often feel the pressure to stay strong and composed, but it is important to remember that expressing our emotions is a healthy and necessary part of dealing with bad news.

By allowing ourselves to mourn and weep, we acknowledge the reality of our pain and create space for God to comfort us. It is in these moments of vulnerability that we can experience God's presence and find solace in His love. As we process our emotions, we can then turn to God in prayer and fasting, seeking His guidance and strength to navigate through our difficult circumstances. [19:50]

Nehemiah 1:4 (ESV): "As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you received bad news. How did you respond? Take a moment to allow yourself to mourn and weep if you haven't already, and then turn to God in prayer and fasting for comfort and guidance.

Day 2: Start Prayers with Reverence and Praise

Nehemiah began his prayer by acknowledging God's greatness and steadfast love. This sets an example for us to start our prayers by recognizing who God is before presenting our requests. By focusing on God's attributes, we remind ourselves of His power and faithfulness, which can bring comfort and perspective to our circumstances. When we start our prayers with reverence and praise, we shift our focus from our problems to God's sovereignty, allowing us to approach Him with a heart full of gratitude and trust.

In our daily lives, it is easy to become overwhelmed by our challenges and forget to acknowledge God's greatness. By intentionally starting our prayers with reverence and praise, we cultivate a habit of recognizing God's presence and power in our lives. This practice not only strengthens our faith but also helps us to maintain a positive and hopeful outlook, even in the midst of difficult situations. [24:28]

Nehemiah 1:5 (ESV): "And I said, 'O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.'"

Reflection: When you pray today, start by acknowledging God's greatness and steadfast love. How does this shift in focus impact your perspective on your current challenges?

Day 3: Confession and Repentance Are Essential

Nehemiah confessed the sins of his people and his own sins, demonstrating the importance of humility and repentance in our prayers. Confession allows us to acknowledge our shortcomings and seek God's forgiveness, while repentance involves turning away from our sins and striving to live in accordance with God's will. This process of confession and repentance is essential for maintaining a healthy and honest relationship with God.

In our own lives, it is important to regularly examine our hearts and confess our sins to God. By doing so, we humble ourselves and recognize our need for His grace and mercy. Repentance is not just about feeling sorry for our sins, but about making a conscious decision to change our ways and align our lives with God's will. This ongoing process of confession and repentance helps us to grow spiritually and become more like Christ. [34:22]

Nehemiah 1:6-7 (ESV): "Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses."

Reflection: Take a moment to examine your heart and confess any sins to God. What steps can you take to turn away from these sins and align your life with God's will?

Day 4: God's Love Is Steadfast and Unchanging

Despite our changing circumstances and emotions, God's love for us remains steadfast. This assurance can provide comfort and hope, especially during difficult times. God's faithfulness to His covenant promises means that He will never forsake us, even when we feel overwhelmed by our situations. In a world where everything seems uncertain, we can find peace in the unchanging nature of God's love.

When we face challenges, it is easy to feel abandoned or forgotten. However, the truth is that God's love for us is constant and unwavering. By reminding ourselves of this truth, we can find strength and courage to persevere through difficult times. God's steadfast love is a source of comfort and hope that we can rely on, no matter what we are going through. [30:17]

Nehemiah 1:10 (ESV): "They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by your circumstances. How did you experience God's steadfast love during that time? How can you remind yourself of His unchanging love in your current situation?

Day 5: Trust in God's Ability to Redeem and Restore

Nehemiah's prayer and the sermon emphasized that God is able to redeem and restore, no matter how dire our situation may seem. Whether we are facing personal struggles or witnessing the brokenness in the world around us, we can trust in God's power to bring healing and renewal. This trust should lead us to persistent prayer and reliance on God's timing and wisdom.

In our own lives, we often encounter situations that seem hopeless or beyond repair. However, we must remember that God is in the business of redemption and restoration. By placing our trust in His ability to redeem and restore, we can find hope and encouragement to keep moving forward. Persistent prayer and reliance on God's timing and wisdom are key to experiencing His transformative power in our lives. [22:44]

Nehemiah 1:11 (ESV): "O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."

Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that seems hopeless or beyond repair. How can you trust in God's ability to redeem and restore this situation? What steps can you take to persistently pray and rely on His timing and wisdom?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the theme of "A Prayer When Bad News Comes," drawing parallels between the story of Nehemiah and our own lives. Nehemiah, a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, received devastating news about the state of Jerusalem and its people. His response to this bad news was to mourn, weep, fast, and pray. This mirrors our own experiences when we face difficult situations. The sermon emphasized that it is okay to mourn and weep when we receive bad news, but we should also turn to God in prayer and fasting.

Nehemiah's prayer began with reverence and praise for God's attributes, acknowledging His greatness and steadfast love. This sets an example for us to start our prayers by recognizing who God is before presenting our requests. Nehemiah also confessed the sins of his people and his own sins, demonstrating the importance of humility and repentance in our prayers. The sermon highlighted that God is a covenant-keeping God who hears our prayers and sees our contrite hearts.

We were reminded that our circumstances might change, but God's love for us remains steadfast. The sermon encouraged us to trust in God's ability to redeem and restore, no matter how dire our situation may seem. It concluded with an appeal to those who do not yet follow Jesus to confess their sins, repent, and put their faith in God, who is able to redeem and restore.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Mourning and Weeping Are Valid Responses to Bad News: When Nehemiah received bad news, he mourned and wept for days. This teaches us that it is okay to express our grief and sorrow when we face difficult situations. Mourning and weeping are natural and valid responses that allow us to process our emotions before turning to God in prayer and fasting. [19:50]
2. Start Prayers with Reverence and Praise: Nehemiah began his prayer by acknowledging God's greatness and steadfast love. This sets an example for us to start our prayers by recognizing who God is before presenting our requests. By focusing on God's attributes, we remind ourselves of His power and faithfulness, which can bring comfort and perspective to our circumstances. [24:28]
3. Confession and Repentance Are Essential: Nehemiah confessed the sins of his people and his own sins, demonstrating the importance of humility and repentance in our prayers. Confession allows us to acknowledge our shortcomings and seek God's forgiveness, while repentance involves turning away from our sins and striving to live in accordance with God's will. [34:22]
4. God's Love Is Steadfast and Unchanging: Despite our changing circumstances and emotions, God's love for us remains steadfast. This assurance can provide comfort and hope, especially during difficult times. God's faithfulness to His covenant promises means that He will never forsake us, even when we feel overwhelmed by our situations. [30:17]
5. Trust in God's Ability to Redeem and Restore: Nehemiah's prayer and the sermon emphasized that God is able to redeem and restore, no matter how dire our situation may seem. Whether we are facing personal struggles or witnessing the brokenness in the world around us, we can trust in God's power to bring healing and renewal. This trust should lead us to persistent prayer and reliance on God's timing and wisdom. [22:44]
### [22:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:21] - Introduction to Ezra and Nehemiah
[04:48] - Parallels with Our Church's Journey
[08:01] - Opening Prayer
[09:40] - Personal Story: Bad News
[12:55] - Nehemiah's Response to Bad News
[14:33] - Nehemiah's Background
[16:21] - The Bad Report
[18:42] - How to Respond to Bad News
[20:20] - Mourning and Weeping
[22:14] - Fasting and Praying
[23:19] - A Prayer of Confession
[24:28] - Starting with Reverence
[30:17] - God's Steadfast Love
[32:05] - The Importance of Prayer
[34:22] - Confession and Repentance
[36:50] - God's Promise to Gather and Restore
[39:05] - Appeal to Non-Believers
[41:11] - Conclusion and Call to Worship

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Nehemiah's initial reaction when he received the bad news about Jerusalem? ([12:55])
How did Nehemiah begin his prayer, and what does this reveal about his approach to God? ([24:28])
What specific sins did Nehemiah confess in his prayer? ([34:22])
How long did Nehemiah mourn, weep, fast, and pray before taking action? ([20:55])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that Nehemiah started his prayer with reverence and praise for God’s attributes? ([24:28])
How does Nehemiah’s confession of sins reflect the importance of humility and repentance in our prayers? ([34:22])
What does Nehemiah’s persistent prayer over four months teach us about the nature of waiting on God? ([20:55])
How does the assurance of God's steadfast love provide comfort during difficult times? ([30:17])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you received bad news. How did you initially respond, and how might Nehemiah’s example change your future responses? ([12:55])
Nehemiah began his prayer by acknowledging God's greatness and steadfast love. How can you incorporate this practice into your daily prayers? ([24:28])
Nehemiah confessed not only his own sins but also the sins of his people. Are there areas in your life where you need to practice confession and repentance? ([34:22])
Nehemiah trusted in God's ability to redeem and restore. Is there a situation in your life that seems beyond repair? How can you trust God with it? ([22:44])
How can you make fasting and praying a regular part of your spiritual discipline, especially when facing difficult situations? ([20:20])
Nehemiah’s prayer life was a declaration of his dependence on God. How can you cultivate a more prayerful life to show your dependence on God? ([32:05])
The sermon emphasized that God's love is steadfast and unchanging. How can this truth impact the way you handle changing circumstances in your life? ([30:17])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "When bad news comes, we are to humble ourselves. We are to humble ourselves and then pray prayers of confession and redemption to God who redeems." [13:30] (14 seconds) ( | | )

2. "Listen, if you recently just received bad news, then the Word of God says it's okay to mourn and weep. But Nehemiah also shows us what to do after our mourning and weeping. He tells us in chapter 1 that we are to move from mourning and weeping to fasting, and praying." [20:20] (26 seconds) ( | | )

3. "Why should you and me fast and pray to the Lord God of heaven? Because he sees our contrite hearts and he hears our weak prayers. He hears our prayers from heaven. You see, he is the only one who can transform our situation. He's the only one who can change a person's heart. He's the only one who can redeem the enslaved to sin. He's the only one who can restore a broken relationship." [22:14] (36 seconds) ( | | )

4. "Listen, our prayers don't change things, but our prayers connect us to God who can change things and transform hearts. Your view of God determines how you view your circumstances. If you believe that God is truly great and awesome, then your circumstances will become small." [27:29] (35 seconds) ( | | )

5. "In conclusion, when bad news comes, when bad news come, let's humble ourselves. Let's not be angry. Let's pray prayers of confession, prayers of redemption to God who is able to redeem. Why? Because the God of heaven is a covenant keeper. He's a promise keeper. And his steadfast love for you and me is secure because he has great power and his hand is strong and he's able to restore, renew, and rebuild broken lives." [41:11] (52 seconds) ( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "So when this phone call came in, they were in the ER. Kylie began to bleed. And in the ER, I don't know if I have all the details right, but they were told that her cervix was considered incompetent. Which means that that if it is incompetent, they could lose the baby. This is a phone call that I got, we got, as I was trying to prepare and pray and study the sermon." [10:10] (39 seconds) ( | | )

2. "Nehemiah shows us how to respond appropriately when we hear bad news. In fact, the Psalms of lament, tells us that it's okay to mourn and to weep when we hear bad news. Listen, if you recently just received bad news, then the Word of God says it's okay to mourn and weep. But Nehemiah also shows us what to do after our mourning and weeping. He tells us in chapter 1 that we are to move from mourning and weeping to fasting, and praying." [19:50] (42 seconds) ( | | )

3. "Nehemiah prayed for God's ear to be attentive and for his eyes to be open to his prayers. Now, we know that this is one of the children's catechism questions. We know that God is spirit, right? He doesn't have physical human ears. He doesn't have physical human eyes. Nehemiah here is using what theologians call the anthropomorphic language. It's really just a language that is helps us to understand who God is. We have a language that we understand we have eyes to see and we have ears to hear. He uses this language to help us see that he is listening to our prayers and then he sees our contrite hearts. He sees our suffering." [31:31] (50 seconds) ( | | )

4. "A prayerful life is a declaration of your dependence on God. A prayerless life is a declaration of your independence from God. A prayerless life is a declaration of your dependence on God. I seek to pray daily, not because I have to, but because I get to. I seek to pray daily, not to gain favor and grace, but because I have been given much favor and grace beyond what I deserve. Prayer is not an act of duty. It's not tedious work. It's worship. It's thanksgiving. It's a privilege." [32:05] (49 seconds) ( | | )

5. "Church, haven't we all committed idolatry? Haven't we all made judgmental thoughts towards others? Haven't we all committed the sin of idolatry? Haven't we all committed the sin of covetousness? Haven't we all committed the sin of pride? If we've all committed corporate sin like this, then what is the antidote of our sin? What is the solution of our sin? It's repentance. It's repentance. And that's what Nehemiah will pray through in verses 8 through 11." [34:22] (50 seconds) ( | | )

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