Blaze Church

Why is it so hard to match our actions with our best intentions? The people of Israel vowed to keep their covenant to God, but after Nehemiah left, they broke their promises. Nehemiah returned and redirected their hearts towards honoring God. Paul wrote that what he wants to do he doesn't do because of our sinful nature. In Jesus there is freedom. As we surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit we can live a life where our intentions match our actions.

Who gets the credit when you accomplish something great? It’s tempting to be filled with pride and boast of your achievements. After completing the wall, Nehemiah led the people to give God praise. Embrace a humble attitude. Recognize that all you have comes from God. Make the first phrase you say after completing a goal: “You did this!”

“We’ve always done it this way.” It’s a phrase that reveals the patterns in our life. What patterns need changing? God has the best plan for you. Nehemiah chose to not follow the path of his predecessors. Out of reverence for God, he acted differently. The new normal in your life as a believer involves presentation, separation, transformation, and demonstration. Jesus came to serve and establish a new way of living. Discover purpose by serving like Him!

Whenever you step out to rebuild, you need to expect opposition. Following Jesus in obedience means the enemy will oppose you. Nehemiah responded to the opposition by taking it God and fighting for others. Your God is fighting for you, and Christ has won the victory! Overcoming opposition is possible as you remain dedicated to the call God has for your life.

When we want to start rebuilding, it can be very tempting to bypass a critical step in the rebuild process of our lives: Inspection. You know what’s broken in your life and you have a vision to rebuild, but now it's time to inspect. Nehemiah took time alone with God to inspect the brokenness of the city walls and gates. Have we allowed just a little bit of sin in our lives? Are we living without self-control and limits? Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be “the Great Inspector” to convict us of our sin and point us to Jesus. To rebuild your life, you need a life inspection.

Once we have identified what needs fixing in our world, we need to act! What is God calling you to do about the brokenness? You need a God-given vision for your life! If you can’t define it, you can’t do it! Every person was created on purpose for a purpose. Through Nehemiah, we discover that making a vision become reality involves a purpose, planning, and Providence. The result of your obedience has the potential to impact more people than you can imagine!

Nehemiah was an ordinary person who hit a breaking point when he saw a need. Before you can build, you have to have a burden. Rebuilding involves: Sitting down to cry, kneeling down to pray, and standing up to act. God is your Redeemer! There is no part of your life that is too broken that He cannot restore!

Too often we allow what we are facing to be the lens that we view life through. Our perspective is shaped by our situation. What can change our perspective? Praise! While Paul was in prison, he chose to praise God. He didn’t need a breakthrough to begin praising; his assurance and hope was in the saving work of Jesus! Through Christ, God has set us free from sin. This is our reason to praise Him!

How do you find peace and when living a life of anxiety? When fear and worry grip your hearts? Philippians 4:4-7 promises peace that  “transcends all understanding”. How can we find peace that only God can give when your mind is racing and you can’t focus because of anxious thoughts?. We learn from the story of Daniel that prayer is our first response! Use anxiety as an alert to start praying and as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 states it: never stop praying. Daniel surrendered to and trusted God in everything and was met with salvation from the lion’s den. But Daniel’s story points us to Jesus, who surrendered to the Father, was faithful to the end, and died for our sins so that we can have a relationship with God through prayer and scripture.