The Prayer to Keep Going

"Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. (Neh. 2:4)
Hear, O our God, for we are despised. (Neh. 4:4)
And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. (Neh. 4:9)
Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people. (Neh. 5:19)
But now, O God, strengthen my hands. (Neh. 6:9)

Praying...I find it hard to do. Why? Maybe I struggle to have faith that the Lord hears me sometimes, or maybe I am too busy, or maybe I wonder if it will really do any good. I am an optimist in general. I tend to see the glass as half full. But sometimes, the subject of prayer makes me a pessimist, especially when I am waiting. Waiting on God to do what I think He is supposed to do. Isn't that funny?

I've been reading Nehemiah lately and am really challenged by his prayer life. Above are just a few of the prayers he records in his book. Nehemiah is given by God the grand task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. They were completely destroyed by the Babylonians about 70 years earlier, and now God is ready to do something great again with his people. And of course, Nehemiah comes across some serious opposition. But his response to any difficulty no matter how great was to pray and keep on going with the task God had given him. He never asks God for a sign of confirmation and he never questions God's plan. He just prays and keeps on going.
I am incredibly challenged by that. God has called me to be a wife, a mother, a daughter, a discipler, and a teacher. Now when the going gets tough, how many times do I stop and question? Many times, the toughness of life distracts me from the task God has called me to. Instead of just praying and moving on with what I know to be true, the questions and doubts stop me from being effective.

Oh, Lord, teach me to have the focus like Nehemiah did. Teach me to trust you enough to pray and keep moving. Forgive me for all the times I have neglected to pray and remain faithful to what I know to be true. Keep my eyes on you in the good and the hard times. Remind me always to pray and keep going.