Lesson 7: Move Your Feet! Day 4

Nehemiah 2:6; 6: 15 - 16



I love the way Nehemiah responded to King Artaxerxes' questions about timing. The text tells us in 2:6 "So I set a time." I tend to be an overanalyzer. Does anyone else fall into that trap? I can debate within myself both sides of nearly every possible scenario that exists ... and even create scenarios that do not exist. That takes a lot of time and even more energy. The opportunity for Nehemiah opened ... so he set a time. And then began to put a plan in place. Had it been me, I might still be there trying to decide the absolute best day for departure! The lesson I learn is when God opens a door ... GO! MOVE! Quit overanalyzing. Now, that requires descretion and wisdom. It actually requires a "prayed up" spirit that we spoke about yesterday. But when those things are in place, we really can (I should say, I really can!) ... JUST DO IT! He's my hero.



I close this week with the words in 6:16 "they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God." Any good we do is because of God and by God. Any accomplishments we experience happen with the help of our God. Any successes we enjoy, large or small, are orchestrated by God. And so I ask, How do I communicate that God is the reason for any and all success in my life? Any gifts and talents that we possess ... any strengths that we carry ... all have originated in the hand of God who generously pours out upon us. When you receive a compliment or a praise over something, accept it graciously ... but in your own spirit, or, when appropriate, with a simple word, forward it to God. He is the originator. Offer Him the praise and the glory.



The book of Nehemiah ends with these words: "Remember me with favor, O my God." (13:31b) Those words are precious to me because they are also carved into the headstone that marks my grandfathers grave: Remember me, O mighty One. I think that is a good prayer for us to close today's work:

Remember us with favor, O mighty One.

Lesson 7: Move Your Feet! Day 3

Nehemiah 2:1 - 5



Anyone struggle with fear? Fear of what could happen? Fear over the conditions, both economically and culturally, in our country? Fear of new, unknown things? Fear for your children? Nehemiah has a word for us. You are going to sometimes feel fear. That is a given. We see his statement "I was very much afraid" in verse 2. Acknowledging your fear is not a bad thing. It is not a lack of faith. It is honest. I think it is wise to consider the reasons ... wise to try and identify the source of the fear. Only then can it be addressed. I assume that Nehemiah's fear came from the absolute power over his life and death that King Artaxerxes held in his hand. That is indeed a fearful thing! What makes Nehemiah stand out as one of our heroes of faith is found in the tiny word "but" that begins verse 3. In the face of his fear, Nehemiah still moved! He still said to this king what he needed to say. Remember that Nehemiah belonged to the people of God. He wanted to help his people in Jerusalem. I think he believed it to be the will of God. He was absolutely "prayed up" over the situation. He still felt fear.



I am intrigued by the way he began his statement. "May the king live forever!" That was the appropriate, culturally relevant way to begin any conversation with an eastern monarch. He did not bypass the relevant forms of communication for his time. We can learn from that ... being culturally relevant does matter. It allows communications to be "heard".



Notice in verse 4, when the king asked him what it was he wanted, the text tells us that Nehemiah "prayed to the God of heaven, and answered the king ..." It is all one sentence. I believe it indicates the heart of prayerfulness that was the heart of Nehemiah. There was no need to tell the king, "Let me get back to you on that one ... let me pray about it." Because he had already spent time in prayer over the matter. Therefore, it seems that this refers to an "arrow" prayer that connected all he had previously confessed and cried out before God to the moment. He was ready. I see two questions for us. First: Do I spend time with God in prayer so that I am ready when moments arise? Second: Is my heart so prayerfully atuned to God that any response from me echoes a heart that "prays continually" as Paul instructs in 1 Thessalonians 5:17?



As I think on these things ... how to respond to this day's lesson is not subtle! A more prayerful spirit. More time talking and listening to my God. Only then can I be ready to face my day ... even when fearful things appear on the scene!

Lesson 7: Move Your Feet! Day 2

Nehemiah 1: 5 - 7, 11

There are several lessons that speak to me in these few verses. One is that our God is a covenant-keeping God. And His covenant is one of love. That leads me to consider the covenant relationships that I am currently in. What kind of covenant-keeper am I? Can I be depended upon? Am I faithful to the covenant? What about you? Also, do I fully trust God as a covenant-keeper? If you have been born again by the Spirit of God, you are in a covenant relationship with the God of the universe. Trust Him ... He keeps His covenants of love!

In verses 6 - 7, I see again that confession is both personal and communal. We are a part of a larger whole - the body of Christ, a country, a family, etc. We are connected to one another. When I fall, my family and my church are affected. We don't like to think about that. We are products of the "I am a rock, I am an island" kind of thinking (thank you Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel!) and it is just not true. We are not islands - standing alone. Nehemiah understood that. Are you willing to confess the sins of the larger whole as your own? Remember, confession is agreeing with God and His value system. It is not merely my likes and dislikes. That requires my familiarity with God's values.

I love verse 11! I love that Nehemiah was fervent in prayer, specific in asking for success and favor in the presence of King Artaxerxes. However, he did not tell God how to answer his request! He laid the need out before his God ... but did not tell God what to do. That is beautiful trust. That is acknowledging the need and allowing God to be God, accepting that God's wisdom and paths are better than mine. Do I do that? Do you? Or are we more prone to tell God exactly how He needs to move in response to our requests? God is wiser than we are. God knows the whole picture, not just the tiny scene in which I appear. Our primary need? TRUST HIM ... remember, He keeps His covenant of love!

Lesson 7: Move Your Feet! Day 1

Nehemiah 1: 1 - 4

Once again we see the way God lets us know, specifically, that He is in the midst of history. It is such a good reminder for me - God has always been involved in history and He still is. He is in the midst of our history, this year, these circumstances. He is here.

What moved me the most in this day's meditation is found in verse 3. Hanani's report to Nehemiah is that "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down ..." The wall of God's city was broken down. And that was cause for disgrace. The NASV uses the word "reproach" and the NIV uses "disgrace". I traced that word to gain additional insight into the sense of it. It means "scorn, state of dishonor, shame". It carries the sense of "casting blame with the purpose of harming one's character". It is the antithesis of honor. What in the world brought such a pitiful state for these people? Why were they being mocked and shamed by their enemies? Verse 3 tells us - the wall of Jerusalem is broken down.

What's the big deal? The wall of an ancient city was considered its protection. Therein was its security, its safety. It symbolized all that was strong and secure for the city. And the fact that Jerusalem's was broken down was the source of the shame, the disgrace, the mocking for this remnant of God's people. Are there any lessons in that for you and me? Hear Psalm 18:2 "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge." And Psalm 31:3 "For You are my rock and my fortress. For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me." And finally, Proverbs 25:28 "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." OUCH! God is our security. He is the wall around us - providing protection and safety. It is indeed a disgraceful thing for God's people to be eaten up with anxiety and fear when God is our wall. When His strength surrounds us, what is there to fear? I am writing more to myself right now than to you!

Why was Jerusalem's wall broken down? It had been the "receiver" of enemy attack and of neglect. So the question for me today (and, perhaps, you?) is: What does Satan use against me to break down my "wall", my security in God? Where are your vulnerable places? Don't neglect them! Keep them fortified. Shore them up in the Name of our God. He is our fortress - our rock - our security - our strength.

There is no reason for "disgrace" when God surrounds you.

Lesson 7: Move Your Feet! Introduction

We have reached the final lesson in this particular study. Our reading this week is in the book of Nehemiah. Set aside a little time and carefully read Nehemiah 1, 2, 6, & 8. Anne comments that we are going to be seeing "how God's call in our life motivates us forward into action."

After the overview reading ... spend 4 days with meditation and reflection on the following: (remember to look for lessons ... what is God telling you through these verses? What does He want you to do about it?)

Day 1: Nehemiah 1: 1 - 4
Day 2: Nehemiah 1: 5 - 7, 11
Day 3: Nehemiah 2: 1 - 5
Day 4: Nehemiah 2:6; 6: 15 - 16

May God bless your study of His word this week.

Lesson 6: Just Say Yes! Wrap-Up

Before you "shift your gears" and start thinking about Nehemiah (our next stop!) I want to share with you some highlights from the video discussion.

1. Crawford Loritts commented that he wondered if Uzziah had been a distraction to Isaiah. Had God been calling for a long time ... and it took Uzziah's death for Isaiah to hear? Very often we have to get some clutter out of our own lives to be able to hear God.

2. The risk of failure pales into insignificance when compared to the risk of missing God. There is no failure when you are doing His bidding. It matters not what the world sees.

3. Available hearts are what God uses ... more than anything else. He provides the ability and the sufficiency for any tasks He calls mortals to.

4. When Isaiah's lips were cleansed, THEN his ears were opened. Again ... and again ... and again we hear the need for cleansing ... and it can only be done by God.

5. Don't try to go BACK to missed opportunities. When God gives another opportunity ... take it as a fresh moment, a new thing ... and say "Yes, Lord. Here am I."

Lesson 6: Just Say Yes! Day 3

Isaiah 6: 6 - 8

Human need ... divine provision ... grateful, passionate response.

Have you ever experienced needing something and being completely unable to provide for that need? Think about a newborn baby. The little one desperately needs food. Without it - that life will be forfeit. So ... someone steps in to provide for that need. On a much more mundane level, when I have car trouble - I desperately need someone to step in and meet the need because I am totally unable to meet it myself!

The greatest human need is for atonement. Definition: "a making at one, points to a process of bringing those who are estranged into a unity." (The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Volume 1)
Our separation from God presents our deepest and most profound human need. And we can do absolutely nothing to meet the need. Try as we will ... through being good, through religious practice, through spiritual discipline, some try by denying that God even exists ... we cannot meet that primal need. So ... God steps in to meet it for us - to make us "at one" with Him. God provides. God supplies. Purity and wholeness can only come from God. He alone can meet that need. He alone can clothe us so that we can stand in His holy presence. He does so for Isaiah. And Isaiah fully realizes the extent and the power of the reality. Do I "get it"? Sometimes I wonder ... because, I think, when we "get it" lives are forever changed!

Isaiah hears God asking and immediately - no hesitation, no negotiating - responds. "Here am I. Send me." He could respond so quickly and so completely because he had seen God - because he understood what God had done for him. What is God asking of you right now? Is it to deal with some particular sin or habit that is harmful? Is it to be a peacemaker in some situation? Is it to tell of your faith to someone? Is it to forgive an offense? Is it to go to someone and seek amends for an offense that you were responsible for? Why are you waiting?

When you get a vision of the Holy God and what God has done for you, life is forever changed. Your path is changed. Your direction is changed. Your desires begin to transform.

Here we are Lord. Send us. Let us be difference-makers. Let us be the ones to show what it truly means to walk as "Christ-ian". Here we are Lord. Ready, willing, and able because of the sufficiency that You provide. Here we are.