Nehemiah 1 · Grade 4
Prayer Comes First
Read and Think
Nehemiah lived in Susa, the winter palace of the Persian king. He served as the king's cupbearer. That was a job of great trust. When his brother Hanani came from Judah, Nehemiah asked about the people and the city.
The news was hard. The people who had come back were in great trouble. The wall of Jerusalem was broken down. Its gates had been burned with fire. A city without walls was open to any enemy.
Nehemiah wept and mourned for days. He fasted and prayed. He praised God, who keeps His covenant. He confessed the sins of the people and his own family. He reminded God of His promise to gather His people. Then he asked God to give him mercy before the king.
Show What You Know
What job did Nehemiah have?
Why was a broken wall a problem?
What did Nehemiah do for many days?
Whose sins did Nehemiah confess?
What did he ask God for at the end?
Word Bank Fill-In
Use the word bank to fill in each blank.
- Nehemiah lived in Susa, the winter palace of the Persian .
- The of Jerusalem was broken down.
- Nehemiah and mourned for days.
- He fasted and .
- He praised God, who keeps His .
Think About It
Nehemiah prayed before he made a plan. What is a problem you can bring to God in prayer first?
Nehemiah said we have sinned, not just they have sinned. How can you be honest with God about your own wrongs?
Memory Verse
““Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.”
Nehemiah 1:10 (WEB)
Copy It
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for hearing my prayers. Help me . Amen.
Take It Home
For families: talk about these together.
- How did Nehemiah begin his prayer?
- How did Nehemiah use God's promises when he prayed?
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.