Arise & Build: A Prayer Based on Nehemiah 2:20

by Katy Kauffman

When Nehemiah went from Persia to Jerusalem, his heart was set on building. He had heard that although the Jews were back in their homeland after a seventy-year captivity, the walls of Jerusalem were still in ruins, leaving the city weak and vulnerable to attacks. So Nehemiah did something about it. He prayed, and as the trusted cupbearer to the king of Persia, he got permission from him to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild it (Nehemiah 1:1-4, 2:4-6).

But there were enemies. They mocked the Jews’ plan, and Nehemiah’s response turns into a declaration for us today.

“So I answered them, and said to them, ‘The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem’” (Nehemiah 2:20 NKJV).

Arise & Build

What do you want to build this year? Good health? A stronger relationship with God?

What new things might He want you to do to help others? What things does He want you to keep doing?

When the spiritual enemies of fear and doubt mock our service to God, it’s not time to retreat but to depend on the God of heaven Himself to help us.

When distractions battle for our attention, it’s not the time to give in but to set aside lesser things to focus on the best things.

When spiritual warfare increases, it’s time to appeal to God for help and give no place in our minds to the enemy’s troubling thoughts.

We are God’s servants, and He calls us to “arise and build.” His kingdom has more room for souls, and His children need more strength to do His will to fill it.

A Prayer to Arise & Build

So in this new year, let’s pray with humility and hope:

Dear God of Heaven,

We come to You as Your servants, and we want to know how You want us to arise and build this year. Please give us guidance on what You’ve already called us to do, and show us if there’s something else You want us to add.

Enable us to refuse the enemy’s tactics—thoughts of discouragement or attacks on our joy and peace. We take great joy in You as our spiritual Commander and as our forever King. Help us to hold our shield of faith high! If You’ve called us to do something, we know You’ll help us do it.

Help us to strive for excellence in how we serve You and others. Keep our hearts filled with Your warmth and love. And help us to keep You at the center of all we say and do.

Every day, help us to see from Your perspective and to live from Christ within us. Bind Satan from having any victory or power in our lives, and keep us walking in Your will that each day’s victory is Yours.

Thank You for building Christ-likeness in our hearts. And as we spend time with You in Bible study and prayer, You build up our strength and determination. Thank You for Your help and protection as we stay close to You.

You are Someone worth following and choosing. May this year be all You want it to be, and may our love for You and for others grow every day.

Thank You for calling us to build. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When discouraging thoughts come your way, how do you refuse them, so you can do what God has for you? Tell us in the comments, and may 2026 be a powerful year for building up God’s kingdom!