A Prayer for my work

I read one of my favorite passages in Nehemiah today.

Nehemiah is rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem to provide safety for its inhabitants and respect for God. It’s so dangerous that the people alternate building and standing watch. They lay bricks and carry swords. They’re not messing around.

Nehemiah prays while he works, and he doesn’t allow anyone from the outside to distract him. His prayer life gives him the discernment to realize that Sanballat and Tobiah are pretending to be interested in his great task, when in fact, they are trying to stop the work, at any cost, because a strong Jerusalem threatens their control of the area. They feign friendship; they use intimidation, compliments, lies, and threats in an effort to cause Nehemiah to stop his work.

But Nehemiah’s all prayed up. He sees right through them.

Nehemiah’s example reminds us to work and pray over the task that God has assigned us. This task will be too hard for us. It will require us to gather a team around us. It will require tough decisions and strong leadership.

When God gives you something to do, 
it will be bigger than you, 
not about you,
more important than you think, 
and it will bring God the glory (not you). 

Anything else is a counterfeit to the work God has for you.

Oh, Lord, 
strengthen us for the task you’ve given us. 
Help us not be distracted by anyone or anything.
To you be all the honor and glory!
Amen.


“So I replied by sending back this message to them: ‘I am doing a great work! Why should I stop to come and visit with you? … You’re just trying to scare us into stopping our work. (Oh, Lord God, please strengthen me!)'” —Nehemiah 6:3 & 9