Pray, Guard, Protect

Nehemiah 4:9 NLT "But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves."

In Nehemiah 4, Nehemiah discusses how their enemies opposed them rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Their enemies were disgusted with them continuing on with what God called them to do in the midst of how everything looked.  Nehemiah and the rest of God's people who were committed to rebuilding were scoffed at and talked about as they were doing their work.  If you refer to verse 9, our meditation verse, you will see Nehemiah and his team's response.  They prayed and guarded the city to protect themselves and the work that they were committed to.

When you're committed to doing the will of God, the enemy is going to be in your ear--whispering (sometimes shouting) about what you cannot do, will not accomplish, shouldn't do, or have no business doing. Since you know this: Be ready! Arm yourself with the word of God to remind yourself of why you're doing it and who you're doing it for!  Nehemiah took very important steps that we should all take:

1. PRAY!!! Do not neglect your time alone with God praying and seeking guidance.  This is a time of refreshing and spiritual renewal and empowerment.

2. Be on Guard! Guard the dream/vision that God has placed in your heart and don't allow anyone to stop you from accomplishing it!

3. Protect yourself! How? Protect yourself by equipping yourself with God's truth. Fight the enemy with the word of God--what you already know to be true!

Additional scripture reading: Nehemiah 4