“They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat… After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.’”
“While all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for… I had returned to the king. Some time later I… came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God… I gave orders to purify the rooms…
“I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them…’Why is the house of God neglected?..’ All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms. I put Shelemiah, Zadok, and Pedaiah in charge.., because they were considered trustworthy.” Nehemiah 4:8-9,14; 13:6-7,9-13
Nehemiah was a man of thoughtfulness, action, and his word. Everything he did was with purpose, care, and integrity. After taking leave from the king to go rebuild in Jerusalem, he returned to him according to their agreement. Only a man of excellent reputation would have been allowed to leave, and only a man of his word would have returned. He was passionate about God and His honor, and thus about His people and their obedience.
So when he saw wrongs, he did what he could to make them right- never self-serving or with caprice, always appropriate and trusting the Lord with results. He couldn’t do everything, but what he did was measured and upright, according to understanding and ability and within the parameters of his commitments and position. (Nehemiah 1:11-2:8,11-15,17b-20)
A life steeped in prayer keeps us in the center of God’s will. When we live under proper authority, we understand our place and the places our Master would have us serve Him in work. Trusting Him to direct us goes hand in hand with trusting Him for ongoing sustenance and wisdom for the task, and as caretaker of all results. Our seasons will change through the years from waiting on His guidance to exploration of the issues He’s set before us to active engagement in the fray. Each one is assigned by His good order and grace for His appointed times, and each meets varied challenges. The God who determines the start will complete the finish in His heavenly interest and timetable. (Acts 17:24-27)
Are we prayerfully and wholeheartedly doing all the Lord has set before us this day, or are we easily distracted by fears or weak faith? Would we put hand to task and ask for God’s continued guidance and blessing? Do we count the value of our lives according to God’s assigned course? Would we endeavor to finish our race faithfully, serving Him with humility, not shrinking from any assignment, and trusting Him with results? (Psalm 90:17; Acts 20:18-27,31-32,35)
Father, help me trust You with ways, means, and results of all You have called me to do. Keep me faithful in every effort for Your glory.
As the rain and snow 