Old Testament Prayers Converted

This morning I was reading in Nehemiah One and in that chapter is a prayer that Nehemiah (the cupbearer of the King) makes on behalf of the exiles in Jerusalem.

"O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6let 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. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' 10They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."

As I read this prayer, my first thought was... wow...this man knows how to pray. My second thought, because saying things well in prayer is not my strongest suit, was... I wonder if I could use this prayer as a template for praying myself. Immediately I was drawn to praying for my church.

"O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 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 Bethel Reformed Church, we are your servants. I confess that as a church we have sinned against you. Even I and my household have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you have laid down in your word. Remember the words that you have spoken throughout the bible, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' This church contains your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your people today, and grant us mercy."

I am hoping, over the coming year, as I find prayers written in the bible, to use them as "prayer builders" in my own life. I know there are different acronyms for prayer, but I find when I use them that prayer seems contrived somehow, and yet just praying spontaneously, I find that my prayers are short and sweet, and somehow always seem to lack proper reverance for God. I would like to change that. :) I have good examples in my church of people I just love to listen to pray.... good godly men, and one comes regularly to prayer meeting. May I over the coming year, learn how to pray more reverently.