Not Without a Fight!

Daily Reading:  Nehemiah 4

So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. (Nehemiah 4.13)

Devotional Thought: When the people of God rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, enemies came against them, to discourage them, to delay them, and to defeat them.  The people of God did not go down without a fight!  Nehemiah organized them and they completed the work God had given them.  From the following verses, we learn that in our spiritual battles we must...

• Stay together (13): Nehemiah stationed them by their clans.  Jesus gives us our church families to encourage and to defend us.

• Focus on God (14): If we get our eyes on the enemy, we will be overwhelmed with fear.  Instead, we need to focus on "the Lord who is great and awesome!"

• Fight for our families (14):  There is too much at stake to give up.  What will happen to our "brothers... sons... daughters... wives... homes"?  They will become war casualties if we surrender!

• Keep working (18): Nehemiah didn't retreat into a purely defensive posture.  Instead, he combined work with warfare. The enemy wants to stop the work. He wins if we stop.  Keep working!

• Rally to the trumpet (20): We really do need each other.  Sometimes you will need help.  Sometimes your neighbors will blow the trumpet for help.  The important thing is to know that help is on the way.  Be faithful to those around you!

• Do not stop fighting (21-23):  In the words of Winston Churchill, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in... Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy..."

Most importantly, remember that the battle is the Lord's, for "Our God will fight for us!" (20)

Prayer: O Lord, you did not stop until the work on the cross was completed.  Help me to be strong and courageous and to fight to the end!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 106:40-43

40 Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance.

41 He gave them into the hands of the nations, and their foes ruled over them.

42 Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power.

43 Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.