Living Victoriously

Nehemiah 6: Nehemiah was a Jew who loved the Lord. In chapter 1 you see his repentant spirit and contrite heart. Because of that he was called by God to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall so that the rest of the exiled Jews could return to their city, in essence, to their God. Beginning in chapter 6 the wall is almost complete, but Nehemiah has some opposition that wants to distract him from finishing his God given task. Nehemiah has a great sense of purpose and drive in this task and we’ll see how that enables him to complete the job.

Looking at this passage of scripture from today’s perspective I see two opposing forces: rebuilding the city wall (equivalent to building a relationship with God) vs. some Arab men who try to get Nehemiah distracted (equivalent to anyone or thing that distracts you from your relationship with God). Please know that God is always working for our good, to draw us into an ever deeper relationship with Him, but there is one who is always working against God’s goodness and he’ll use anything to try to distract us from the very One who loves us the most.

It’s easy to see Nehemiah’s heart reflected in his desire to follow God by his actions (not to say that actions equal relationship- they do not! But, when you love someone you express it with actions). When I’m being honest with myself my desire is to walk closer with God. My desire is to see His hand at work in my life and in the lives of my family. My desire is to be ever maturing in my faith. My desire is that others might look at me and see God at work in me. But do my actions each day show that desire? It’s an important question to ask. Do I allow myself time to sit with my bible each day? Or do I allow the hecticness and busyness of disorganization steal away those quiet moments? Do I enforce the self-discipline it takes to turn off the day time tv shows that have pacified my thoughts and allowed me to become physically and spiritually lazy? Do I buy into the idea, like so many American families today, that a busy schedule full of classes, activities and sports will make my children well rounded and happy more so than teaching them the bible and showing them first hand knowledge of what having a relationship with God looks like?

Back to Nehemiah, there are opposing forces at work right off the bat in verse 2, the Arabs try to meet with Nehemiah, but he sees the situation for what it is “a scheme to harm me” he calls it. Nehemiah’s response is wonderful “I am carrying on a project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to go down to you” (vs3). For Nehemiah the priority is rightly placed on his building project. For us the building project must be our relationship with God. By doing so I am trusting Him for the prioritizing of my daily life. In addition to that I’m telling the distractions, the enemy, that God is leading me and that they need to fall in line. This elevates God to His rightful position in my life and places satan under my feet where he belongs.

But that’s just the start of it, look at verses 4-8. Four more times they send the same message and Nehemiah doesn’t waiver. He isn’t personally offended, emotionally weary or even second guessing his original response. What a great example Nehemiah is! He continues to “give them the same answer”. How can he be so confident in his answer? Because he is certain about the building project that God sent him to do. As we read on the opposition gets more intense. Isn’t that just like life sometimes, never relenting? These men try intimidation, so Nehemiah prays for strength (v9). Then they set up a trap, even using God and His temple to try to get Nehemiah to fall into sin to then turn on him, discrediting him, but he responds by praying for them by name (v14). I, too often, become an emotional wreck, distraught by my circumstances. I need to look to Nehemiah as an example of how to respond to my daily struggles, even when they seemingly pile on top of one another.

In the end the wall was successfully rebuilt in just 52 days! What an amazing victory! Is there something that God might victoriously bring to you if you got down to the business of your relationship with Him? Let me give you a 52 day challenge. For the next 52 days would you spend the first 10 minutes of your day in prayer and scripture and see what God does in you over that time. Report back and let me know what He has accomplished.

Here is the fruit of Nehemiah’s prioritized life. This is the fruit of the Spirit that God wants to produce in and around you. This IS what He’ll do when your priority is on God first. God enabled the enemy to see that Nehemiah was doing God’s work and they gave glory to God. Isn’t that an amazing and powerful witness? Not only was Nehemiah victorious in finishing the building project, but the work became a witness in the unbelieving culture around him. He knew his God-given purpose, he trusted God rather than relying on his own strength. On top of it all Nehemiah wasn’t trying to “witness”, but his life became a witness because God was working through him. Jesus summed it up nicely when He said “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing” John 6:63

Dear Heavenly Father- As I wake each day draw me into Your presence, remind me of Your priorities for my life, please work in me and through me. ~Beth