Scripture to Read: Nehemiah 4:9-13
When we face spiritual battles each day, we know that we are to pray. God has lovingly shown us, through Nehemiah, that Nehemiah began the work God had for him to do. Nehemiah had Sanballat and Tobiah start mocking him and the other laborers, and so Nehemiah prayed and got back to doing what God called him to do. Then Sanballat and Tobiah had the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites join them in setting out a plan to attack Nehemiah and all Jerusalem to stop the building of the wall around Jerusalem. Does Nehemiah stop the work? Absolutely not, but Nehemiah gets back to praying. Nehemiah’s enemies were relentless to the point that the Jews who lived near Nehemiah’s enemies came and told Nehemiah TEN times, Nehemiah 4:12, “They will come up against us from every place where you may turn.” Knowing that the battle could become a physical battle and not just a spiritual battle, Nehemiah also, according to Nehemiah 4:13, “stationed men in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, the exposed places, and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears and bows.” Sometimes we have to take steps in the physical realm to protect ourselves from physical battles that might come against us. We continue to pray, do the work God has laid out for us to do, and provide protection from physical threats that might come our way. God will give us the discernment we need so that we make decisions that honor Him.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today as He uses Nehemiah as an example of facing life’s battles both spiritually and physically?
2. What are you currently doing each day to fulfill the work God has called you to fulfill? (see Ephesians 2:10, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:14)
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!