Pray the Scriptures, June 23

Nehemiah 6

Sovereign Lord God,

I pray in Jesus’ name this day for myself and ______________________ . There will be times when you call us to build up the wall and stand in the gap before you, when you call us to do something that requires courage and persistence, and arouses opposition from people around us.

Enable us to recognize when we are tempted to compromise or be drawn away from the task you have called us to by lesser things. May we recognize the importance of what you have called us to do and not leave our post, no matter how persistent the distraction may be.

Strengthen our hands when false accusations are made against us and slanderous things are said about us. Strengthen us so that these verbal attacks will not frighten us, or intimidate us, or make our hands too weak to complete the work. May we say with Nehemiah, “Should a man like me run away?” Keep us from sinning out of weakness or fear so that our name and your work may not be discredited.

I pray that you will remember those who try to intimidate us and stop what we are doing for you. As your work goes forward, may they instead become afraid, and may they lose their confidence as they realize that you are with us, and the work is being done with your help, the help of our God.

In the name of Jesus, I pray, amen.