Life Verse

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me"

Psalm 51:10

Monday, April 2, 2012

What was the last thing God asked you to do?

Yesterday, our pastor spoke about Nehemiah.  If you don't know the story of Nehemiah, he was an ordinary man that did an extraordinary thing.  He heard that the wall in Jerusalem had been destroyed and it tore him up.  He called out to God and decided that he wanted to rebuild it.  God provided for him to be able to accomplish this amazing plan.  Nehemiah faced constant ridicule, doubt and opposition for what he was doing, but he kept going with God's help and was able to do work that would have taken professionals several years to do and it took him and his helpers only 52 days!  Nehemiah kept the goal in his sights and was not distracted.  Not only did he rebuild a physical wall, but he also met the physical needs of the people there.  Pastor Brady(New Life) related this to being in God's will.  How do you know what God's will for you is?  He posed this question, "You can know what God wants you to do by asking yourself, "what was the last thing God asked me to do and did I finish it?"  Don't keep asking and looking around for something new if you haven't finished the last thing."

I knew right away what it was for me.  I have been called to be a biblical wife and mother.  My will, RIGHT NOW, is to follow God's calling for me to finish this job.  I often feel like I am underappreciated, tired, not doing a good job,etc.  I am constantly distracted from the job God has called me to do.  I am going to try to keep my vision and follow through, like Nehemiah.  I need to avoid my distractions and call out to God just as he did and I will eventually finish building my "wall of Jerusalem".  I can also apply this to the homeschooling of my children.  It is still not the "popular" choice in our culture.  I may even be ridiculed or opposed by people in my life. I fight my own doubts.  I have to keep the focus and know that the end result is for God's glory.  He has a plan for our family and I am not going to let myself or others get in the way of that.  I will work joyfully for my family and for God.  Like Nehemiah, finding out that the wall was torn down, I am sad to think of what would happen to my family if I didn't do everything I could, with God's help, to keep my family from being torn down. Inspiring!  I am going to print out a picture of the wall to remind me of my calling and that God will equip me to do what He has called me to do.  Be blessed, go read Nehemiah--it's pretty short! Little book, big message.
Jerusalem, city wall.jpgWall of Jerusalem
One of my favorite verses,  " They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.” "
But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”  Nehemiah 6:9