Focus - Keep Building

Why do I love the book of Nehemiah? The book of Nehemiah is a powerful reminder of the incredible feats one can achieve with the help of the Lord when driven by a genuine love for people and a heartfelt burden. When he heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and burned to the ground, he cried, fasted, and prayed. But what’s truly remarkable is that he did not rush into action. Instead, he waited on the Lord for direction, demonstrating his patience and trust in God’s timing. It’s a lesson we can all learn from, reminding us that sometimes, the most powerful action we can take is to wait on the Lord. God opened the door.

The Bible says that he prayed night and day. He did not get an answer until four months later when King Artaxerxes released him from his role as cupbearer to return to Jerusalem, his homeland, to rebuild the wall. Another lesson we see here is that God will move on unrighteous people in the earth to advance His mission and purposes. We see it throughout scripture. I am reminded when the Bible reads, “… in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved on the heart of Cyrus king of Persia…” (Ezra 1:1); his proclamation allowed Isreal to begin rebuilding the temple. In short, God will send support from unlikely people and places to advance His agenda and purpose.

When Nehemiah arrived on the scene, he accomplished in 52 days what had not been done in approximately 140 years. Did he face opposition? Absolutely. The surrounding nations tried to intimidate and frustrate the rebuilding of the wall. Yet, Nehemiah remained focused while praying and trusting in the Lord. Read it for yourself; the book of Nehemiah is powerful.  

Just imagine what you can accomplish if you have a clear focus on your mission and are driven by a sense of responsibility while fasting and praying every step of the way. Nehemiah chose to leave the comfort of the king’s palace because he was on a mission. This book is full of practical life lessons that we can apply to our lives when working towards building something great for God.

Four times, his enemies Saballat, Tohiah, and Gesham attempted to make him come down from the wall and stop building. He discerned that there was a plan to harm him.

His response was the same each time. “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should I stop while I leave it and go down to you?  

KNOW that you are doing great work. Stay focused in the face of opposition and keep building. God is with you.  

Nehemiah’s prayer: “Lord strengthen my hands.” (Nehemiah 6:9)

My prayer: “Lord, empower my hands to carry out your plans and purposes in this world. Grant me the strength to remain focused and fearless in the face of opposition. May I continue to build, placing my trust in you always.”