Around 445 b.c., Nehemiah began a project to repair the walls of Jerusalem. At that time, there was only a remnant of Jews living in the Promised Land after the Babylonian exile. He undertook a project that many said was impossible and, without God, would have been. Many of us are also in need of repair in some area(s) of our lives. Maybe it is a relationship that needs to be repaired. Or perhaps our reputation. It might be a wall needs to be repaired between us a destructive habit. There is a lot to be learned from Nehemiah's wall project when it comes to reconstructing our lives.
My last entry outlined the steps Nehemiah took early on in the project. Recognition of the problem, brokenness before God, admission of personal responsibility for the problem, and presentation of a request to God. These are all internal, personal steps that must be taken before any real, lasting restoration can take place.
In the second chapter of Nehemiah, we find Nehemiah start to move from the internal to the external. "5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” Nehemiah asked for help. As much as many of us like to think that we can get better without the help of others, that is often times not the case. Yes, there are those times when an alcoholic has all desire for alcohol removed immediately at a tent revival meeting, or a smoker walks away from a whole pack of cigarettes never to crave again. But most often the removal of a negative habit or correction of a destructive behavior pattern requires the help of others.
That help might come in the form of a trusted friend, professional counselor, or accountability partner, but regardless, there is strength in numbers. In the sixth chapter of Mark, Jesus "called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. . ." (Mark 6:7 ESV) Having someone to call, email, or text can be a powerful tool on the road to rebuilding. But, as Nehemiah demonstrated, this relationship must be chosen carefully.
There was a preexisting relationship between Nehemiah and King Artaxerxes. The king knew Nehemiah well enough to know something was bothering him. "2 And the king said to me, 'Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.'" (Neh. 2:2) A casual friend is not one to include in the rebuilding process. It must be someone who knows you and cares enough about you to reach out to you in a time of need. That friend must be as concerned about your well-being, as they are about their own day.
Even though Nehemiah was on the path God had laid out for him, he continued to pray throughout the process. "4 The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven. . ."
Just beginning the process with prayer, while necessary, is not enough. It is imperative that time in conversation takes place on a consistent, frequent basis. Rebuilding is often times a long, arduous process that will require frequent times of encouragement, wisdom, and rejuvenation. Sure Nehemiah received God's direction in the beginning, but he didn't stop there.
The success of Nehemiah's plan required both a horizontal and vertical relationship.
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