Like a Nehemiah

The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. 17 But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!”18 Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.
They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.

- Nehemiah 2:16-18

Nehemiah had so much faith about rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem he didn't even speak to his countrymen yet about his plan to rebuild the wall. He just started to inspect the walls by himself at night and then told his fellow Jews his plans. But he would never have gotten there if it wasn't for the faith he had to rebuild the walls. His fellowmen could see that his story was not ordinary and that his journey to get to Jerusalem took a lot of faith and prayer from being the King's cupbearer to coming there with the King's help and blessing. GOD's favor and grace in Nehemiah's life had so much to do with them being convinced that it was indeed GOD's will that they should rebuild the walls.

But these walls would never be rebuild if it didn't start with one man who had a burden to do so. And the rebuilding of the walls took such hard work because their enemies were threatening them day and night, and they didn't have enough workers. The people were starting to complain because they couldn't use all the men to rebuild, some had to stand guard to protect the workers. There was not only threats but so much pressure and the people were starting to complain. But by GOD's gracious hand and favor, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt all because one man repsonded to the burden and call of GOD in his life. We all have work to do, we have regular routines in our busy days but only a man of GOD could take time to get out of his job to do GOD's work wherever there is a need to do so. Are we Nehemiah's of our time? Where we consider GOD's work more important than our earthly toil? Do we have the heart of GOD where we not only feel the burden HE placed in our hearts but chose to act on it because we can do something about it? We have a choice, would we rather please ourselves or do we want to please GOD like a Nehemiah? Search your heart, what is the burden GOD has placed on you, pray and have faith to do it for GOD's favor and grace are waiting to be poured on you.