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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. _{Nehemiah 1:6}

Nehemiah had been separated from his family during the exile of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians. Possibly because of a previous position or maybe a noble birth, Nehemiah had been appointed as cupbearer to the king.

Some years later, Nehemiah’s brother came up from Judah to Susa, and wanting to know all about his homeland, Nehemiah asked about the situation in Jerusalem. He was devastated to hear,

“The remnant who survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and it’s gates are destroyed by fire.”

Nehemiah wept and mourned for days; he also fasted and prayed to the Lord. He had been faithful to God but his nation had not, and judgement came upon them all. Nehemiah could have been bitter but instead he chose to intercede on their behalf, identifying with them and their sin against God – “even I and my father’s house have sinned.”

Nehemiah’s faith was worked out through his determination to see the people of Judah restored back to God. Our faith is tested by our attitude towards those who have abandoned God and his ways. Do we leave them to their own devises or do we get down on our knees, praying day and night, confessing the sins of the people, and imploring the Lord to hear our prayers?

Exercise your faith through intercession, and pray that those who have wandered far from God would be restored.