Nehemiah ended his prayer with the recognition that God’s “strong hand” would determine their future, just as it had their past (1:10). Every prayer of faith must rest on the fundamental conviction that God can sovereignly act on our behalf, but intercessory prayers dare to boldly approach God with requests for him to powerfully respond to the present needs of others. The people in Jerusalem had no claim to deserve anything from God because of their sins. But in faith, Nehemiah believed that God