Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring stones back to life from those heaps of rubble-burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What are they building-even if a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” I prayed, “Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.” So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
– Nehemiah 4:1-6
Devotion
Once the rebuilding process began, immediately there was opposition by those who did not want to see a healthy and vibrant Jewish population in their midst. The opposition became so strong that half the work force had to work security detail while the rest of the workers worked with a weapon in one hand. Nehemiah reminded the workers that they served a great and awesome God and that they should not be afraid. So the work continued!
The Big Question
Just as Nehemiah and the people of Israel faced opposition in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, we too will experience opposition as we follow the Lord in our lives. Expect it! Satan is always busy trying to thwart God’s attempt to build His kingdom. Satan will attempt to discourage and delay God’s work in order to build his own kingdom. Keep in mind Paul’s words, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world.” What do you do when you face opposition on your spiritual journey? When you face opposition, do you focus on the size of the enemy or do you focus on the power and might of your God?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what God revealed to you today.