Upon hearing the bad and sad news, we are told he did something about it. Nehemiah gave priority to spiritual discipline - prayer - "...I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven" (1:4). Observe the following: "I sat... wept.... for days...mourned...fasted... and prayed....to the God of heaven" (1:4).