“O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer.” Nehemiah 1:11 NKJV
“And it came to pass in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, that I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad in his presence before. 2 Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.” So I became dreadfully afraid, 3 and said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 2:1-4 NKJV
Lord God and Father,
Nehemiah, we learn in these opening chapters, is a man of prayer and emotions. A man who held his people in his heart and his prayers. He must have shown that same care as cupbearer to the king to receive such a generous reply from the King. And I suspect his knees were knocking a little at the time!
I am also sure that he had to be prepared to serve the king whenever. He would not have done regular days with weekends off and holidays! He would not have been able to meet with others for an afternoon prayer meeting. And his prayers that we have, in the Bible, read like a conversation with You. Respectful not flowery, honest and showing an understanding of Your Word and Covenant. He prays as things come up, as a result of conversations and when he needs Your help. On the go prayers. And the real encouragement to me? Even impromptu prayers on the go work.
I believe in prayer teams and prayer meetings but they will never take the place of that prayer conversation I snatch in real time as it were. As needs arrive, in the moment. We don’t always have time to draw aside and meditate and to talk to You, especially when we need to pray help – before we speak.Thank You Holy Spirit You hear the unspoken thoughts and desires of our hearts.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 18th September 2026
This has grown on me. One of those songs where the chorus sticks in your brain. A good reminder – don’t stop praying.
What’s your impossible? Your “I need a miracle”
What’s got you barely hanging by a single thread?
What looks so hopeless now? What weighs down your heart with doubt?
You beg for a breakthrough, but no sign of breakthrough yet
When you’ve cried, and you’ve cried ’til your tears run dry
The answer won’t come, and you don’t know why
And you wonder if you can bow your head even one more time
Don’t stop praying
Don’t stop calling on Jesus’ name
Keep on pounding on Heaven’s door
And let your knees wear out the floor
Don’t stop believing
‘Cause mountains move with just a little faith
And your Father’s heard every single word you’re saying
So, don’t stop praying
He’s close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit
The Alpha and Omega knows how your story ends
When you’ve cried, and you’ve cried ’til your tears run dry
The answer won’t come, and you don’t know why
And you wonder if you can bow your head even one more time
Oh, do it one more time
And don’t stop praying
Don’t stop calling on Jesus’ name
Keep on pounding on Heaven’s door
And let your knees wear out the floor
Don’t stop believing
‘Cause mountains move with just a little faith
And your Father’s heard every single word you’re saying
So, don’t stop praying
Oh-oh
(Don’t stop, don’t stop praying) oh, don’t stop praying
(Don’t stop, don’t stop praying)
Oh-oh
Don’t stop praying for the prodigal
Don’t stop praying for the miracle
Hallelujah, hallelujah, and amen
Don’t stop praying that addictions end
Don’t stop praying for deliverance
Hallelujah, hallelujah, and amen
Oh, don’t stop praying for the sickness healed
Don’t stop praying for His power revealed
Hallelujah, hallelujah, and amen
No, don’t stop praying for the Kingdom come
Don’t stop praying that His will be done
Hallelujah, hallelujah, and amen
Don’t stop praying
Don’t stop calling on Jesus’ name
Keep on pounding on Heaven’s door
Let your knees wear out the floor
Don’t stop believing
‘Cause mountains move with just a little faith
And your Father’s heard every single word you’re sayin’
So, don’t stop praying
oh, don’t stop praying
(Don’t stop, don’t stop praying)
No, don’t stop praying
Lyrics: Matthew West and Jeff Pardo