Jerusalem was reestablished; its walls were reconstructed, God's word reinstituted, and God's people recommitted. But, the city was greatly underpopulated to fulfill all that God had called it to do. In Nehemiah chapter 11 we see the plan of God in filling the city with a people for the purpose of God.

Hannah was a woman who was full of sorrow that was both provoked and absent of pity. In desperation, she made a promise to God that if he would give her a child, she would give it back to Him. A promised child; and a woman who kept hers.

How far does God want us to go in our pursuit of obedience to Him? Is the mere confession of sin enough? What do repentance and obedience look like?

In the valleys of life, we tend to call out to God for help. This is usually fueled by a desire to not have to face the consequences of our decisions and we often fail to reflect and truly learn from the reasons we were in the valley at all.

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul makes this profound statement "because of the great love with which he loved us... made us alive together with Christ... and raised us up with him". God's love for his people caused him to take us from death to life, from a tomb to resurrection, from hopelessness to eternal joy.

In the days leading up to his crucifixion, Jesus took whip in hand and ‘cleansed the temple’ in Jerusalem. But more than simply driving out animals and profiteers, Jesus was cleansing his Father’s house of false worshippers and filling it with true.

Have you ever thought about what is central to your life? When you really value something it impacts what you believe and how you live. In Nehemiah 8, we not only see how important the Word of God was for Israel but also how they responded to the Word of God.

Nehemiah has finally completed the wall, but the real work has just begun. The work of rebuilding was never going to end at the completion of structures, they were means to a greater end; the completion of a people.

God's purpose always brings opposition. One of the biggest oppositions we will face is the lies of the enemy that try to build fear into our hearts to get us to stop the work at hand. We have to use discernment to navigate through the opposition and see the work completed.