How to Pray Always

Nehemiah 2:4-5 (NIV)

The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it."

Nehemiah was a man of prayer. We find him praying in a variety of problems and situations. He was a man dependent on God. I love this little scene involving an exchange between Nehemiah and King Artaxerxes. When the king asks you a question, you don't dally around or delay your answer; you answer immediately. I am sure Nehemiah did so but he found the time to pray between the king completing his question and before giving his answer. That could not have been but a few seconds, but Nehemiah prayed.

I know I have purposed at times to try and pray about everyday situations when they arise. I've even tried to pray before confronting situations that I know will require wisdom and direction from God. Usually, I find that I forget in the heat of the moment, trying to play "catch up" with my prayer. I want to be like Nehemiah. I believe this is one of the secrets to the command we have to pray always. It means having a constant awareness of God's involvement in our lives, checking with Him before we say or do anything.