ARM YOURSELF

• DAY 203
• FAITH FILE: NEHEMIAH
• SCRIPTURES: NEHEMIAH 4

“But time after time Jews who were living among our enemies came to warn us of the plans our enemies were making against us. So I armed the people with swords, spears, and bows, and stationed them by clans behind the wall, wherever it was still unfinished. From then on half of my men worked and half stood guard, wearing coats of armor and armed with spears, shields, and bows. And our leaders gave their full support to the people who were rebuilding the wall. Even those who carried building materials worked with one hand and kept a weapon in the other, and everyone who was building kept a sword strapped to their waist. The man who was to sound the alarm on the bugle stayed with me.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬, ‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭GNT‬‬

I’ve learnt that life challenges don’t wait until everything is perfect to occur. Your life does not come in categories or labeled boxes that allows you choose what challenge to handle when. Things just seem to unfold before you without any atom of warning. And this can be tough.

Not to mention that in some cases these issues seem to come all at once. We get the privilege of facing various situations even in the midst of other things that we’re going through. Family crises don’t wait for financial crises to be over before it shows up; we often have to deal with both simultaneously. And sometimes one comes immediately after the other and we barely have time to breathe.

No Pauses

In our text today, Israel had to deal with rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem amidst mockery, disapproving enemies and now life threats.

“Sanballat, Tobiah, and the people of Arabia, Ammon, and Ashdod heard that we were making progress in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and that the gaps in the wall were being closed, and they became very angry. So they all plotted together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion,” Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭GNT‬‬

Rebuilding the wall was necessary for the wellbeing of Israel and that was already a handful. They already had a fair share of challenges and one more thing would have been too much for anyone. But they did not have the luxury of postponing purpose to fight an enemy. You too cannot pause your purpose because of an opposition. 

Every purpose has destinies that depend on it and if it is of God lives are at stake. So sometimes we have to be fighting for our marriage and building that business. We have to be fighting for the life of our children and running that NGO. However, we need to be prepared and armed to do what is necessary to win on both ends.

Watch and Build

God gave Nehemiah wisdom to divide the people into groups of warriors and builders. While a troop built, a troop watched and vice versa. This they did day and night. Yet, what amazed me was that irrespective of shift or responsibility everyone was to be prepared and armed. And that’s what we need when we have to fight and build at the same time.

We cannot be caught off guard. Because the enemy is hoping to use the element of surprise; he intends to come when you least expect and only the prepared will be victorious. 

Be Prepared

Beloved, if you’re in that season where it seems like everything is coming at you, I want you to know that you have what you need to succeed in Christ. So put on the whole armor of God and get ready to defend yourself but keep building. Be prepared whether it is morning or night to claim the victory Christ already won for you.

We don’t carry swords now but we have the armor of God and prayer.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

May the Lord strengthen you to be able to overcome in every area of your life. Even if they are coming in different ways, God empowers you to cause them to flee in more ways than they are coming. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Shalom.