Nehemiah 1:4-7

When I heard these things I sat down abruptly, crying and mourning for several days. I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  Then I said, “Please, O Lord God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps his loving covenant with those who love him and obey his commandments,  may your ear be attentive and your eyes be open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you today throughout both day and night on behalf of your servants the Israelites. I am confessing the sins of the Israelites that we have committed against you—both I myself and my family have sinned.  We have behaved corruptly against you, not obeying the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses.

Nehemiah has heard of the ruin of Jerusalem since being exiled, and that information has a very real impact on all levels for him. He responds to this by crying, mourning, fasting, and praying before the Lord. Through this process, Nehemiah confesses the sins of Israel on both a corporate level and a personal one. Confession of sins is vital for an authentic relationship with God. When we recognize that we have sinned, we must realize that the right thing to do is confess that wrongdoing before the Lord and ask/receive forgiveness. Nehemiah does this through prayer and fasting and the Lord grants him favor to be able to rebuild Jerusalem.