The document discusses the importance of prayer and lessons that can be learned from Nehemiah's example of prayer. It provides 5 key lessons: 1) Motives for prayers are important; 2) Prayers reflect our relationship with God; 3) Prayer is not a substitute for action; 4) God's answers to prayers aren't always simple; 5) God's answers are trustworthy. It also includes a prayer about learning from difficulties.

1. Developing Your Prayer Life
Prayer in Action

5. Prayer: offensive or defensive weapon?

6. A Brief Historical Introduction to...Nehemiah
586 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah
538 B.C. King Cyrus of Persia decrees Jews may return.
535 B.C. Temple construction begins (takes 20 years)
458 B.C. Ezra returns to Jerusalem under king Artaxerxes
444 B.C. Nehemiah (king's cup bearer) also returns to
rebuild the wall.

7. Prayer of Nehemiah Chapter 1
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

8. HERE’S THE DEAL
Good News:
God always answers prayer!
Bad News:
It may not be the answer you want.
More Good News:
Action compliments prayer.

9. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
1. _______ are important.
Motives

10. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
James 4:3 "When you ask, you do not
receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, that you may spend what you get
on your pleasures."

11. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
relationship
2. Our prayers reflect our ___________
with God.

12. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah 2:4"The king said to
me, 'What is it you want?' 5 Then I
prayed to the God of heaven, and I
answered the king, 'If it pleases the
king...let him send me to the city in
Judah where my fathers are buried so
that I can rebuild it.'"

13. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
Matthew 6:7 "When you pray, don't
babble on and on and people of other
religions do. They think their prayers
are answered on by repeating their words
again and again."[NLT]

14. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
action
3. Prayer is not a substitute for ______ .

15. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah 4:8 "They (the enemies) all
plotted together to come and fight
against Jerusalem and stir up trouble
against it. 9 But we prayed to our God
and posted a guard day and night to meet
the threat."

16. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to
you; seek and you will find; knock and
the door will be opened to you."

17. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
4. God's answers to prayers aren't always
simple
______ .

18. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
Matthew 5:45 "He causes his sun to rise
on the evil and the good, and sends rain
on the righteous and the unrighteous."

19. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah 4:10 Meanwhile, the people in
Judah said, "The strength of the laborers
is giving out, and there is so much rubble
that we cannot rebuild the wall."

20. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
trustworthy
5. But God's answers ARE __________ .

21. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah 4:15 When our enemies heard
that we were aware of their plot and that
God had frustrated it, we all returned to
the wall, each to his own work.

22. FIVE LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH
Proverbs 27:6 "Wounds from a friend
can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies
kisses."

23. PRAYER OF AN UNKNOWN CONFEDERATE
I asked God for strength that I might achieve
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed!