181st Week, Nehemiah Chapters 4-8 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, Nehemiah Chapter 4

Nehemiah 4

Verse 9

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 9:  But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

THOUGHT

Chapter 4 introduces the threat of those who did not want the Jews to gain control and rebuild their city and wall. There were territories of people that wanted to bring the Jews harm. Not only did Nehemiah have to recruit teams and assign areas of the wall and gates to work on, he had to assign teams for protecting the city and the workers.  Nehemiah constantly combined prayer with preparations and planning. The people trusted God and at the same time kept vigilant watch over what had been entrusted to them.

It is so important as Christians to combine prayer with our planning and preparation. I am sure we all can recite situations in our lives where praying first for guidance and discernment helped the success of the event or happening. What a great team work of prayers that has been going on for the sale of Tanya and Alan’s home. We were all praying for Your will and way and still placing our petitions before You. Tonight, we as Salt Shakers, look to our God for guidance and words as we plan to pray for the Ruden Family. 

PRAYER

Father God, I’m so delighted that You are both loving and sovereign and that You cause all things to work together for good to those who love You, to those who are called according to Your purpose. So we thank You for each disturbing and humbling situation in our lives, for each breaking or cleansing process You are allowing, for each problem or hindrance, for each thing that triggers anxiety or anger or pain. Thank You that each difficulty is an opportunity to see Your work. That in Your time, You will bring us out to a place of abundance. We rejoice that You plan to enrich and beautify us through each problem, each conflict, each struggle that we endure. Thank You for the trials to humble us and perfect our faith. Thank You for fulfilling our deep-down desire to glorify You, enjoy Your warm fellowship, and become more like Your Son.  Teach us to pray in all things.  AMEN

Tuesday, Nehemiah Chapter 5

Nehemiah 5

Verse 6

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 6: When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.

THOUGHT

The chapter points out that many of the returned exiles were suffering at the hands of some of their rich countrymen. Nehemiah was angry with these Jews who were taking advantage of their own people in order to enrich themselves. These practices violated the law set forth. 

Have you ever been in a position where the injustice of an act just makes you mad? I feel especially passionate when small children or challenged people are abused or teased or taken advantage of. These acts of injustice angers me just as it did Nehemiah when his people were being taken advantage of.

There is a righteous anger against sin that itself is not sinful. Although it is difficult not to get angry with people, we must try to focus on what they do rather than who they are. We must remember to hate the sin and not the sinner.

Aristotle quotes: “It is easy to fly into a passion-anybody can do that-but to be angry with the right person to the right extent and at the right time and with the right object and in the right way-that is not easy, and it is not everyone who can do it.”  I pray we as Salt Shakers can be the ones who can display our feelings in a positive reaction.

PRAYER

Father, help us to be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry for this is the will of the Lord through Christ Jesus. Help us direct our anger in the ways that would help the situation and not cause hurt and unrest. We rejoice in You, Father God, for You made us glad at heart today. Jesus, we glorify You tonight, OUR KING OF KINGS!!! AMEN

Wednesday,  Nehemiah Chapter 6

Nehemiah 6

Verse 16

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 16b:  They realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.

THOUGHT

In this chapter we find Nehemiah in even deeper trouble. There were people who really wanted him gone and plotted to even have him do something that was not right with God in the temple. Oh, the devil can work his mighty hand, but those who remain focused on God and running the course will remain on the pathway that is right. Nehemiah and his team finished the wall in 52 days.

PRAISE GOD!! 

The most beautiful part of this chapter came when I read the above verse. The teams realized all their individual work was done with the help of the Lord. They were not alone. Nehemiah was a true believer. He worked as if he was doing it unto the Lord. With God’s help anything can be accomplished.

PRAYER: Father God, as we reflect on this week, we are in awe of You!! Thank You for a Spirit-filled week. It has been like breathing in the Holy Spirit to cleanse our Soul. How refreshing to have events of celebration. You were right with Nehemiah as he worked continually on the wall and was a daily example for those who were following his plan. I am so grateful that Nehemiah and his people admitted that they could not have done it without You. Help us each day to realize that in You we find our strength. We love You, King of Kings!! AMEN

Thursday, Nehemiah Chapter 7

Nehemiah 7

Verse 3

Heather Proehl

Verse 3:  I said to them, “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot.  While the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors and bar them.  Also appoint residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some near their own houses.”

THOUGHT

So the wall is now built. This huge accomplishment is complete. However, in verse 3, we see Nehemiah assign duties to protect the wall. He appoints each family to guard their portion of the wall. The point my Bible spoke about in relation to this verse, was how we can’t relax our guard and rest on our accomplishments. We need to continue to serve and take care of what God has given us. It would be easy for Nehemiah to relax and let down his guard, but he knows better. He knows they need to follow through with taking care of what was entrusted to them. 

This made me think of my old public accounting days. The staff that I liked working for me was the ones that followed through to the end of things. There were a lot of great smart staff who could get the big tasks done. But it was the ones that finished that last 10% or continued contact with the clients after the audit sign-off was done that were the ones I wanted on my team. 

I really learned how valuable it was to have follow-through. It was one thing to get the large task of an audit done so we could issue a report. But it was the ones who finished cleaning up the work papers and getting them all wrapped up with a bow on them before vaulting them that made a real difference. It’s always that last 10% that’s the hardest to do. We get over the big challenge and then start to relax. 

We learn here that God calls us to complete, follow-through, and stay focused even after that.

PRAYER

Father God, we thank You for the things in our lives You have entrusted us with, such as sharing the gospel, loving our neighbors, our jobs, our families, etc. Lord, we pray that we can stay focused and continue to work on these things even after we feel we have made huge progress. Help us to stay

focused on the things You entrust to us.  AMEN

Friday, Nehemiah Chapter 8

Nehemiah 8

Verse 9

Heather Proehl

Verse 9:  Then Nehemiah the Governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

THOUGHT

My study Bible pointed out that Nehemiah was Governor. He wasn’t the official spiritual leader. However, look at all that he has done! Even if we aren’t called to full time ministry, that doesn’t mean God won’t use us. In fact, if there were no Christians in secular jobs, how would the gospel reach people? We have such amazing opportunities in our lives to share the gospel even though we aren’t in full time ministry. 

Think of all the people that Mom, Matt, Mindy and Tressa come into contact with in their medical service jobs. Through serving all of those people they can reflect Jesus and live the gospel with them. All of us encounter people in our jobs. Also, how awesome it is when you have Christian leaders at your work-place. I think it’s awesome when Christians take secular jobs because we need Christians in the work-place. I know in the business world, we need Christian leaders who will act with integrity and lead by example. 

Just remember that no matter what your job or role in life is, you have been called by God for His special purpose. Don’t miss out on these opportunities!

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, we thank You for calling each and every one of us into our jobs, careers, roles in life. We thank You for blessing us and giving us these opportunities that You have provided to us. Lord, we pray that we wouldn’t blow it. We pray that we could be Jesus to those we encounter. We pray that we would bring You into the work-place and live the gospel in whatever role You have called us into. AMEN