Here we go, have you been here before? You determine to make a change, to develop a new habit, and Day 1 you are all excited and stick to the plan. Day 2, the excitement from Day 1 carries you over to some degree. But by Day 3 . . . It has got to be something worth sticking with. In my time with the Lord this morning I sensed a real burden for more of Him and His word. I prayed for many of you and the requests that you have shared with me through text, email, Facebook, and conversation. This journey is worth it!

As you read Chapter 2 of Nehemiah do you see the opposition? Do you see the naysayers? Before Nehemiah even gets to Jerusalem there are those that are “disturbed” by his plan to even care about the welfare of the children of Israel. Before the work on the wall even begins Nehemiah and the people are accused of rebellion, laughed at, and despised.

Next Steps:

• What is God revealing to you that needs to be rebuilt, restored, or renewed? Continue praying through these concerns.

• We will be in chapter 2 Sunday, so I would continue to read over that chapter, but keep reading ahead, study the story, ask questions, talk about it with your family and with others.
  • Warning: Be careful not to let the slew of names you will find in chapter 3, 7, & 12 deter you from pushing forward. Think about why God determined to have the names listed in several places throughout the book?
  • We will work through Chapters 3 & 4 together so you may want to read them that way.

Testimony: My wife and I prayed over our requests Sunday evening, and part of her prayer list is five ladies that she is praying for their salvation and an opportunity to share Jesus with them. We prayed for these ladies by name and yesterday one of them stopped by the house and asked my wife if she and her children could go to church with her this Wednesday and Sunday. God is opening doors and will continue to do so in great ways in the days ahead.