They were trying to intimidate us into quitting. They thought, “They’ll give up; they’ll never finish it.” I prayed, “Give me strength.” Nehemiah 6:9
Nehemiah was so close to finishing rebuilding the walls, as God had told him to. And the enemy was trying to intimidate him into quitting. How many have been so close to a breakthrough, but give up at the 11th hour.
Nehemiah went to the Lord and asked for strength. This reminds me of the saying a wise Sensei once said, “I asked God to lighten my load, but instead he strengthened my shoulders.”
The spirit of this age is one of short term gratification, a microwave culture with much shortsightedness. So many people quit when intimidation comes. The Bible says, “the eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9
God is looking for people who will persevere. Who can commit. Who can run the race and finish the course. Brian Houston said one of his secrets to success has been, “just keep turning up.” Or as Dory says in Finding Nemo, “just keep swimming, just keep swimming…”
The good news is that we have a saviour who wants to walk alongside us and make our hearts burn! Just like in Luke where the guys on the road to Emmaus were disillusioned. Then Jesus turns up and shares with them. The Bible says, “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?” Luke 24:35 and it also says “He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way.” Luke 24:45
We serve a Living God who wants to make our hearts burn.
Come Lord Jesus, Burn in me.
Amen.