Nehemiah 1:5 - 7, 9:20

I prayed: “LORD, God of heaven, great and awesome God, you preserve your covenant of mercy with those who love you and keep your commandments. May your ears be attentive, and your eyes open, to hear the prayer that I, your servant, now offer in your presence day and night for your servants the Israelites, confessing the sins we have committed against you, I and my ancestral house included. We have greatly offended you, not keeping the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances you entrusted to your servant Moses.

Meditation

Walls are a fascinating invention of man. They can be psychological or physical, made of mud, brick, wood or whatever raw materials you have at hand. They give us a sense of feeling secure and protected. On the positive side, they make homes and places of worship and help us mentally get different tasks done in the day. On the other hand, we can use them to block people or situations out of our lives both psychologically and physically. If we can't see or feel it, it doesn't exist. Throughout history man has built walls to keep the enemy out. Long ago, if a city didn't have a wall, it was vulnerable and doomed for destruction. People could not survive without the protection of a wall. Today walls have a more negative connotation.

Around 500 BC, when the Jews had returned from exile, they were devastated to find the walls of Jerusalem in ruin. Nehemiah, a cupbearer for Artaxerxes, the king of Persia, was overwhelmed with compassion for his people and his city ! 

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:4)

He took advantage of his close relationship with Artaxerxes and asked permission to leave and help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was a man of God, and his heart was for the things of God, for others and not for himself. He not only built walls but most importantly helped the Jewish people rebuild their faith and confidence in God. He was a true leader, showing them the road to salvation.

Meet the Challenge

The Hebrew name Nehemiah means "God has comforted". Nehemiah's actions and words were of great comfort for his people. He gave them a sense of security and community. He lead his people back to God, their Father, Our Father! What does his prayer above remind you of ? It closely resembles the "Our Father" that Jesus taught His apostles when they asked Him how to pray. 

In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread;

and forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors;

and do not subject us to the final test,

but deliver us from the evil one.

If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions. (Matthew 6: 7 - 15).

What a man of God to be so inspired when praying. Don't we all wish that we could pray like Nehemiah? We can! God has given us the Holy Spirit, "the Comforter" to help us pray. 

But the Counselor (Comforter), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

This week take the time to think about all the walls you have built in your life that prevent you from having trusting relationships with others and especially God. What stops you from opening your heart to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what is broken inside of you that needs to be repaired and rebuilt in order to have a trusting relationship with God. Our blessed mother Mary can also teach you how to open your heart to God and her beloved Son, Jesus. She is our mother and she knows exactly what her children need. She can take you by the hand and lead you to them. Never forget that God uses everything in us that is broken and sinful to build us into the saint that we were created to be!

Let's Pray

Come Holy Spirit! Today I especially need You. Open up my heart so that I can truly understand the words of Our Lord's Prayer - The Our Father. May each word penetrate my soul and bring me closer to God. Teach me how to abandon myself into the arms of Jesus, trusting that He knows what is best for me.

You can now say the "Our Father"  and a "Hail Mary".

Let's Praise Him

Here are a few barriers that might be separating you from an intimate relationship with God. You can also listen to this beautiful song by Kim Walker-Smith invoking the Holy Spirit!