Scripture to Read: Nehemiah 4:14-16
God loves us to rest in Him completely and trust Him in every area of our lives. God never wants us to lean on our strength but to rely on Him and know our strength comes from Him (Ephesians 6:10). We know Nehemiah prayed, continued in the work God had called him to, and provided the physical protection so the wall around Jerusalem could be rebuilt. But today, we see that some of the nobles and officials in Jerusalem were becoming fearful of their enemies. Fear is another tool of Satan and the demons to get us distracted from what God has called us to do. Nehemiah saw the fear in the people of Jerusalem, and so he relied on God for the words he needed, and Nehemiah spoke words of encouragement to them. In Nehemiah 4:14, Nehemiah said, “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.” Now, we must remember that Nehemiah’s words are God’s Words, just as all of the Bible is God’s Word, spoken and written by the people God chose to use to write and speak His Word. God reminded the people of Jerusalem, through Nehemiah, that He is GREAT and AWESOME. Therefore, they would be able to do what’s needed to get the wall rebuilt. When we keep our focus on our Mighty God and remember how awesome He is, then we will rest and trust in Him and accomplish all He desires us to fulfill.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about overcoming fear in the midst of the battle?
2. How will you choose to overcome any fear or doubt that might creep into your life this week?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!