Your Assignment

As we become willing to accept a certain simple attitude toward life, we find that what seemed at first a flimsy reed has proven to be the loving and powerful hand of God. Through the Spirit and the Word we have a design for living that really works. By reviewing our character daily, honestly, humbly before God in relation to our daily life, family, friends, acquaintances, work, God can show us where He wants us to change to be conformed to the image of His Son. We should never be satisfied with a comparison to those around us, but strive toward a closer, more intimate walk with God as our ultimate goal. God's work in our hearts leads us through weakness to power, through danger to security, through fear and worry to peace and rest in Him.

Nehemiah 5:15 But out of reverence for God, I did not act like the previous governors. V.19 Remember me with favor, O God.

Nehemiah 6:16 When our enemies heard that the work was completed, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self confidence because they realized this work had been done with the help of God.

Nehemiah 7:4 Now the city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it and the houses had not yet been rebuilt.

The work that God has appointed us to do, both corporately (rebuilding the wall and setting the gates) and individually (repairing the houses in the city), is truly every bit as great as the task of rebuilding Jerusalem was for Nehemiah. But just as he received a passion to do the work and see it completed, wisdom to deal with the issues that came up during the work, discernment to see through the plots of the enemies opposed to the work, and strength to do the work itself for him and those working with him, so God is with us daily providing "favor from the king" to accomplish the work He has put in our hearts to do.

Just as the enemies around Jerusalem wanted to keep the City of God's Name in ruins, ineffective as a power in the region, an example to anyone wanting to turn to God that there was no keeping power there, so we are faced with spiritual powers that are content with the current state of God's people. But understand, that just as the governors of the region took no direct action against Nehemiah, so also are the tools used against us those of lies, threats, intimidation, accusation, and ridicule designed to "make our hands too weak for the work." With the attitude that was in Nehemiah, focused on "the great project" and calling the lies for what they are, the work will be completed.

1 Corinthians 8:1 Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. V.3 The man who loves God is known by God.

Psalm 33

Loving and sustaining Father, we confirm that You are more than the crutch that the world wants to relegate You to be, You are the under-girding, sustaining force Whose words spoke creation into existence and whose breath populated the starry host. You command it and Your will, Your plans, stand firm forever, the purposes of Your heart remain throughout generations. It is fitting for the upright to praise You for Your word is upright and true; You are faithful in all You do. You love righteousness and justice, yet the earth is full of Your unfailing love. We thank You that we can confidently and boldly walk in Your will and have the full authority of heaven backing us and know the host of angels are ministering to us and warring in the spirit beside us. But in our hearts, we approach You reverently, humbly, in trembling awe and respectful obedience realizing it is You, and not us, Who does these things, and we honor You for it, rejoicing that You have permitted us to be a part of Your plan and Your work.

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