Nehemiah Challenge - Day Four

Hello my dear family,

I am sitting at a library in Wisconsin while my heart is bound to you, my Living Word family. So...even from a distance, let us continue with our Nehemiah Challenge - Day 4!

This is a hard chapter. It's not hard to understand, but it is hard to digest...trials are never easy and never fun.

At the beginning of the chapter we learn that Nehemiah's work is being mocked and ridiculed. The Jewish people are being criticized and insulted.

In times like this it is so very easy to jump to one side or another and to start accusing and defending. This is not what the Jews did, though. They cried out to God for HIS justice. They asked HIM to defend them and move on their behalf. And then what did they do right after they prayed to God for His help? Verse 6: “So we built the wall and the whole wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”

Isn’t that amazing?! It gets me excited just thinking about it! They asked God for help and then left their concerns in HIS hands so that their minds were clear, unencumbered, ready to focus wholly on the task at hand. They were not running around worried or confused, “they had a mind to work.”

The assaults continued to come, and my friends, we surely can expect the same. We live in a small town and we are an easy target, but let us continue to follow Nehemiah’s example in verse 9 and pray to our God, and because of our accusers, set up a guard against them day and night.

Guard your hearts and minds right now from the verbal and emotional attacks that will come. “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses.”

This is the time for us to rise up, stand together and continue the work God has set before us. I stand with you, following the path God has laid before us. This will be our finest hour.

Your friend and servant,
Elise