Billy Graham said, “To get nations back on their feet we must first get down on our knees.” He leads by example. He’s been on his knees praying for the United States for most of his life. In 2013, in a USA Today report he shared, “Our country’s in great need of a spiritual awakening. There have been times that I’ve wept as I’ve gone from city to city and I’ve seen how far people have wandered from God.”

Hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants.

Nehemiah 1:6

This is how Nehemiah must have felt about Israel in today’s verse when he prayed for God to help him get the nation of Israel back to being His “servants.” Nehemiah asked God to listen and confessed the people’s sins. God responded by not only helping him rebuild the wall, but by leading the Jews to once again obey His commands.

Today, stop to give thanks for the privilege and the power of prayer. Remember that you, like Nehemiah, can get on your knees on behalf of the nation’s leaders and people. There’s no better time to do this than during this blessed Christmas season.

Recommended Reading: Luke 18:1-8