Confession Before Petition

O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.

Nehemiah 1:5-9

When Nehemiah heard how his people were suffering back in the devastated province of Judah, he mourned, wept, fasted, and prayed. Nehemiah knew that unconfessed sin was a barrier to prayer. Only after he confessed his own sins, his family’s sins, and those of his people did he ask God to grant him success before the king. God answered Nehemiah’s prayer. The Lord moved the heart of King Artaxerxes to send Nehemiah back to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls.

Are you concerned about the condition of your own nation? Confess your own sins and the sins of your people, and then ask the Lord to intervene.

• Dear Lord, I confess that we have sinned against you . . .