Built by Prayer

The following devotional was written and shared for a morning Zoom prayer with my district youth group on June 1st:

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I want to talk about the story of Nehemiah and the important theme we see about how much we can accomplish when we align ourselves with the will and vision of God. 

Context of the time:

• The city walls of Jerusalem had been in ruins and sat in disgrace for 114 years 

Why this matters: City walls were essential for protection. A city without walls was vulnerable to constant attack, unable to defend itself. For 114 years, Jerusalem had no physical security. A ruined wall also signaled defeat. It was a visible, public reminder that Jerusalem had been conquered and destroyed by Babylon. As long as the walls remained in ruins, it was as if the city had never fully recovered. For 114 years, generations lived in this constant state of insecurity. Jerusalem wasn’t just any city, it was God’s chosen city, the place where the Temple stood. A broken wall around God’s city seemed to suggest that God had abandoned His people. 

• Nehemiah fasted and prayed for about 4 months 

Nehemiah was living in Susa, the capital of the Persian Empire, serving as cupbearer to the King. One day, his brother and some other men came from Judah. Nehemiah asked them about the Jewish people who had returned to Jerusalem and about the condition of the city. They told him: Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. This news devastated Nehemiah, even though he had a comfortable job in the palace. 

Nehemiah was in a comfortable place; he wasn't living in the ruins himself, and he could have pushed down the concerns he had because they weren't technically affecting him firsthand, but he was devastated and mourned what had happened.

1. This shows us that we should never be in a place of such comfort that we are numb or indifferent to the things that are happening around us. 

   
   

When he heard this, Nehemiah didn’t jump into action right away. Instead, he wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed for days, and continued doing so for about four months. This shows us His deep emotional and spiritual burden for the people.  That he didn’t just want a quick solution, he wanted God’s guidance and intervention, his commitment to intercession. 

God's Favor in the situation:

After four months of prayer and fasting, Nehemiah went before King Artaxerxes to make his request. This was a dangerous move since he was asking the king to reverse a previous royal decree. Despite his fear, Nehemiah explained the ruined state of Jerusalem and asked for permission, protection, and resources to rebuild. Miraculously, the king granted everything he requested, showing how God's intervention in this situation opened the door for restoration.

Restoration of the wall:

The wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt in just 52 days, a miraculous accomplishment that was only possible through unity, hard work, and God’s favor. Nehemiah 3 describes how everyone had a role to play, regardless of their background, trade, or status. The chapter repeatedly uses phrases like “next to him” and “beside him”—a beautiful image of collective effort, showing priests, rulers, goldsmiths, and merchants all working side by side. No one was too important or too ordinary to help. 

Unity in the Face of Opposition:

When enemies threatened to attack and stop the work, the people did not quit. Instead, they adapted. Nehemiah stationed workers so that half were building while the other half stood guard, equipped with spears, shields, and armor. Even those working kept a weapon in one hand and tools in the other (Nehemiah 4:17). The text tells us that they were prepared 24/7, always alert, even keeping their swords by their sides when getting water.

This part of the story teaches us powerful lessons:

• Unity: God’s people accomplished the impossible because they were united in purpose.

• Diligence: Everyone stayed focused on their task. They were all committed to the mission.

• Preparedness: They were always ready, never letting their guard down.

After the wall was rebuilt, we once again see that Everyone had a part to play. Nehemiah's task was to rebuild the wall and gather all the people together. Ezra read the Torah aloud while the Levites helped explain it so everyone could understand. This marked a powerful moment of spiritual renewal. The people wept in repentance and then rejoiced, realizing God had not abandoned them. It showed that God wasn’t just rebuilding their city, but also restoring their hearts, identity, and purpose through His Word. 

So here's a super quick recap:

What happened?  

• Nehemiah led the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the city’s broken walls in just 52 days through unity, faith, and perseverance, despite threats and opposition. Afterward, the community was spiritually restored as they gathered to hear God’s Word, repented, and renewed their covenant with Him.

What did Nehemiah do?

• Nehemiah was a Jewish leader who left his position as cupbearer to the Persian king to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. He organized the people, defended against enemies, led with prayer and wisdom, and helped restore both the city’s security and the people's spiritual relationship with God.

Why does what he did even matter? 

• What Nehemiah did matters because he didn’t just rebuild a wall; he restored a broken nation’s hope, identity, and faith. His leadership showed that with prayer, unity, and courage, God's people could overcome opposition and rise from ruin. He reminded them, and us, that true restoration comes not just from fixing what's broken on the outside, but by turning hearts back to God.

What themes do we see in this?

• The story of Nehemiah reveals key themes of prayer, fasting, intercession, and being spiritually and physically prepared at all times. It shows that true restoration and victory come through a deep dependence on God, united action, and unwavering commitment to the mission.

Why does it apply or matter to us?

•  Just like in the story of Nehemiah, when we unite and connect with God through fasting, prayer, and intercession, we can begin to rebuild what’s been broken for generations. With youth camp approaching, now more than ever, we need to stand together—not just because of an event, but because our youth, our churches, and our district need it. Let’s cry out to God with one voice—for what He’s going to do at camp, for healing and revival in our youth groups, for breakthrough in our district, and for the generations before us and the ones yet to come.

Here are the three main points I want to touch on in this devotional:

1. We need to care more.

Everything and everyone in culture and society is telling us to care less. We idolize being nonchalant, we have the let them theory going around, none of these things are bad, but I believe that they have the power to desensitize us from what's going on around us. Like Nehemiah, we must never be in such a place of comfort that we become numb and indifferent to the things around us. Our world needs us to care, we need to cry out for those around us. We need to commit to interceding for lost souls.

2. We must be steadfast in prayer and fasting.

Our first reaction, like Nehemiah, should be to cry out to God for guidance. And when things get hard, instead of quitting, we should adapt. Like the people of Jerusalem adapted when the enemy began threatening and harassing. They were covering each other, and while one was building, the other was protecting. That could paint a spiritual picture for us; instead of seeing others as our competition in the kingdom, we should cover each other with prayer and fasting. While you build, I'm covering you, while I lead you're backing me up.

3. When we unite and submit to the authority of God, we can rebuild what has been destroyed and has been in ruins for generations.