What Most Matters When We Pray

And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments..."
Nehemiah 1:5

Books about prayer differ about how prayer should begin. Many of them describe different varieties of prayer: prayers of worship, of confession, of supplication and so on. Some of them recommend we start with confession and others that we open with worship. Nehemiah opens with neither. However, he does begin by fixing his eyes on the God he is approaching. And it is by calling God to mind that his faith is kindled and his heart made bold.

Neither confession nor worship, nor any other form of prayer is of itself an ideal way to begin prayer. Rather we prepare our hearts for prayer by fixing our eyes on the person we address. A vision of God will make us ready for whatever form of prayer the Holy Spirit wishes to guide us in, whether it should be confession, intercession, adoration or supplication. Nehemiah's opening sentence tells us who or what filled his horizon, which is what most matters when we pray.

--John White, Excellence In Leadership: Reaching Goals with Prayer, Courage & Determination, p.21.