Praying in the Midst of Battle

Nehemiah 1:1-2:9

In this story, Nehemiah learns that Jerusalem, the city of his forefathers, the place where they lived before they were carried into exile, had been destroyed and laid in ruins. Nehemiah’s heart was broken. What would he do after learning this? He deeply wanted to go and rebuild it. He longed to go and fight with the Lord to turn this terrible situation into something good. Then, he began to pray.

Significantly, he turned to the Lord in prayer. Nehemiah took “several days” (Neh. 1:4) to pray and fast, coming before the Lord while mourning over this heartbreaking situation. He asked God to move, to act, and to use him to make a difference.

Then Nehemiah returned to his work as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, ruler of Babylon, the nation that had taken the Jewish people captive. He hoped to speak to the king and ask permission so that he could go and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore the city.

Nehemiah Prays for Something Great

What happened next is an important lesson for us who want to be warriors for the Lord. We will learn a point that will change our lives, a point that will bring us to victory when facing battles we may not even know about yet.

After praying and fasting for several days, Nehemiah finally decided to go before the king. The king noticed that Nehemiah’s face was sad.

Read the verse below, and try to place yourself in that room; notice how Nehemiah prayed:

(2:1) In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when it was my duty to serve the wine, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Because I looked sad, which had never happened before in the king’s presence, (2:2) he asked me, "Why is your face so downcast when you are not sick? This can only be sorrow of heart." Then I became very afraid. (2:3) I answered the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not be downcast when the city, where my forefathers are buried, lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" (2:4) Then the king said to me, "So, what do you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, (2:5) and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight, send me to Judah, to the city where my forefathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it." - Nehemiah 2:1-5

Hold on a moment! Nehemiah prayed? In the middle of his conversation with the king? How did he do that? Why did he do that? Hadn’t he already prayed and fasted for several days? Why did he pray again?

We will learn the basic nature of prayer itself, and how we should use it in every battle we face.

Yes, we need extended times of prayer. Jesus has already given us the example of this (Luke 5:16, 6:12-16). If we do not do this, we are not following what our Lord Himself has shown us.

Jesus also prayed spontaneously, even while He was on the cross, when He could hardly utter a single sentence with ease.

Pray and Fight

What is the point here?

Nehemiah had already prayed and fasted for several days, asking God to bless his effort with a good outcome. But what happened when he was in the middle of his battle, when he stood there before the king?

Nehemiah came to King Artaxerxes bringing wine. The king realized that Nehemiah looked sad, and he asked what was troubling him. Nehemiah answered that he was sad because of the condition of Jerusalem. Then the opportunity came: the king asked, “What do you want?”

Was Nehemiah’s prayer being answered? What did he do next?

He prayed!

Brothers and sisters, this is a lesson for us as warriors of the Lord.

Pray! Keep praying and never stop. Fast and pray continually. Amen to that!

But do more than that. Pray while you are in the middle of conflict. Pray when the sword is in your hand, while the enemy is striking your shield. Yes, pray in the midst of battle!

We must become warriors of prayer.

Without prayer we will fight in our own strength. Pray when we are far from the battle, when we are alone with the Lord. Prayer like this will prepare us for the battle we will face. But let us do even more than that - pray while we are in the middle of the battle. Why? Because we will desperately need the power and presence of the Lord in every second of our battle - in the midst of our struggle.

In his call for us to put on the full armor in facing the devil, Paul sums up his message by telling us that prayer is the key to victory:

with all prayer and supplication. Pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in your prayer with unceasing supplication for all the saints. Eph. 6:18

Let us become people of prayer who pray at length and briefly, deliberately and spontaneously, before the battle and while we are fighting. If we pray like this, victory will be ours! Let us follow Nehemiah, who prayed when he was facing trouble. Let us remember Paul’s words, “Pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17).

Above all, let us follow Jesus, a man of prayer. He set aside several days to pray. (Luke 5:16, 9:28, 11:1) He prayed all night before calling the 12 apostles (Luke 6:12-16). He prayed through the night when He faced the greatest challenge before Him - going to the Cross (Matthew 26:36-46).

Yes, He prayed in that way. But Jesus also prayed spontaneously when He was in distress. In the midst of such great suffering, while He was on the Cross, Jesus prayed again and again.

What words did Jesus speak with His final breath? - A prayer to God!

Let us pray every day, every hour, and at every moment!

Translated from the article BULLET PRAYERS IN THE MIDST OF BATTLE, NEHEMIAH 1:1-2:9

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Related article: Christian Prayer That Moves the Heart of God - Part 1