Nehemiah 1:6 (KJV) Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.

When Nehemiah found out the condition of Jerusalem he was greatly impacted causing him to pray and fast, seeking the LORD with a repentant heart. “Nehemiah 1:1-5 (KJV) The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, [2] That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. [3] And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. [4] And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, [5] And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:”

He did not do this just once but kept at it. He prayed the same thing day and night and we can see that it was not just for one day but many days (v4).

Nehemiah gives us a good example of persevering and persistent prayer and repentance. We pray in faith, believing, and do not give up till we see Him answer. Just what Jesus was talking about in in Luke 11:2-10 (KJV) “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. [3] Give us day by day our daily bread. [4] And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. [5] And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; [6] For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? [7] And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. [8] I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. [9] And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. [10] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Therefore let us be encouraged by how Nehemiah prayed and sought the LORD and follow his example. Let us be persistent and persevering in our payers. Then as with Nehemiah GOD will answer and open an opportunity. “Nehemiah 2:4 (KJV) Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.”, And because we have prayed and are in an attitude of prayer we can ask for wisdom and guidance on the sport, trusting in Jesus, when GOD gives us the opportunities. “1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without ceasing.”