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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “rebuild.” Rebuild means to build (something) again after it has been damaged or destroyed. After the return of the exiles from Babylonia, Nehemiah learnt that “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. ” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:3-4) In Nehemiah 6:1-16, we are told that regardless of the opposition and plots from Israel’s enemies to frustrate the rebuilding, they were able to finish rebuilding the wall. Nehemiah prayed “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. Wall When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. (Nehemiah 6:14-16)

Dear friend, diligence, resilience and faith in the midst of challenges or opposition lead to success or victory. During the rebuilding of the Wall of Jerusalem, there had been opposition from Israel’s enemies. There were enemies within and without. Knowing the importance of leadership in the planning and execution of a nation’s developmental agenda, the enemies were determined to intimidate, frustrate and demoralize Nehemiah who was the leader of the wall-rebuilding project. Unfortunately for his enemies, Nehemiah was diligent, focused, resilient and above all had faith in God for the sustainability and completion of the wall-rebuilding project. As a believer or leader, what is your attitude or posture when you are faced with challenges?

Beloved in the Lord, what is broken in your life and needs to be rebuilt? What is deteriorating in your life which needs to be revived, restored or rebuilt? Is it your spiritual life, family, marriage, business, or investment? The rebuilding of the Wall of Jerusalem teaches us that regardless of the enemies or forces working against our progress, success or victory in life, so long as we are not ready to give up but ever ready to remain diligent, resilient, prayerful and focused on God, the Lord shall grant us success and victory. The name of the Lord will be glorified at the end and we shall be fulfilled. I don’t know what you are going through now but what I do know and believe is that “…everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Joel 2:32) and “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore. (Psalms 125:1-2). Again we are greatly assured by the Prophet Isaiah when he said “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31). Dear friend, like Nehemiah, be strong and have faith in Lord to the end, don’t give up and don’t be intimidated or frustrated by the enemies or adversaries of progress or the situation you find yourself in. The enemies of progress are like storms and passing waves, they do not last. It is for this reason, when Jesus and the disciples were hit by the storm “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40) Pick yourself up, rise on your feet and declare I shall overcome, with Jesus in my boat, I will overcome and rebuild my spiritual life, my marriage, my business and all other broken walls in my life to the glory of God. Shalom.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, we are powerless, we humbly ask for your empowerment to rebuild the broken walls in our lives to the glory of God. Amen.