While reading my Bible the other morning, I was reminded of a principle that applies to us today as we make changes in our lives.
In chapter 4 of the book of Nehemiah, it tells how they faced opposition when the walls were repaired and the gaps were filled:
So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the reparis to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 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. Nehemiah 4:6-9 (NIV)
Doesn’t it seem like that’s the way it often goes for us? We rebuild walls or fill gaps by making changes in our lives that God has led us to make. We live as God would have us to live. It’s hard work. It can be discouraging or make us feel like we want to give up. But we persevere and little by little those repairs are made and the gaps no longer exist. We’re on cloud nine. It feels so good! We may even still be in a little shock that we actually did it! Maybe you thought it would never happen. Maybe it was a “one day” dream you had for years or a deep longing to live a certain way and to be completely aligned with God’s purpose for you.
Then what happens?
Yes, unfortunately, it seems that often the enemy comes at us when we rebuild our walls and close the gaps. Just like in the passage above—-they got angry and came together to fight against the progress. Talk about making it hard. Just when you think you finally “got it all together”. Your ducks are all in a row, so to speak. You made that change. You followed God’s calling on your life or something that you knew He wanted you to do……..whatever your it was that you finally got all together.
It can be so discouraging.
In the passage above, they prayed to God and posted a guard day and night to meet the threat. Wow! That is exactly what we should do.
Three simple verses, yet they are so applicable to our lives today.
- What are the repairs you need to make in your walls?
- Which gaps do you need to close?
- What changes does God want you to make in your life?
What is keeping you from doing it? What makes it so hard to get it done?
- Is it fear? What’s the thing you don’t want to happen?
- Is it too much work?
- Do you think the enemy will come fight against you and destroy it anyway, so why bother?
- What goes on inside you when you attempt to tackle this? Can you describe it?
If you can find the reason and bring it to the surface, you can often change the behavior!
What gap will you fill or repair will you make this week?
Is there someone you can post as a guard day and night to help you?
