Nehemiah 4:11–18 ‘Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other…’ (v17)
Poor Nehemiah. The wall is half built and everyone has done so well to get to this point, but now people are tired and starting to grumble.
Just as he is trying to work out how to keep the work moving forward, he gets given a message repeatedly: ‘They will come from all directions and attack us’.
Have you ever had a similar moment? Just when you think you have worked out what the problem is and starting to form a possible solution, everything else seems to go wrong at the same time!
Just as you have finalised your family budget and think you have it under control, it is in that precise moment that the car needs urgent repairs or the boiler breaks.
The enemy is sneaky and is coming from all directions. Never assume you know where your next battle will be coming from.
I love the image of the workers on the wall carrying building materials in one hand and a sword in the other.
It must have been so tempting to stop the work and focus on the enemy, but instead they continue to build while remaining on their guard.
The enemy wants us to down tools and focus on him, but the mission is not the enemy. The challenge is to stay on our guard AND continue the work.
To not get distracted from our ministry and calling that God has put on our life, while remaining fully aware that the enemy could come at any moment from any direction. Be on your guard.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Lord, help me to be on my guard and aware of what might come from different directions. May I remain confident in You and the calling on my life, yet never complacent. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Be on your guard. What do you need to be on your guard about? What spiritual habits have slipped that you need to get back on track, so you are on your guard once again?
Scripture To Consider:
Ezek. 33:1–9; Hab. 2:1–3; Matt. 28:19–20; 1 Cor. 16:13–14
