Persistence

• When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the swame message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their kind and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us confer together.” I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” 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.” One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.” But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me. So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 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 6:1-16

**When the going gets tough, what motivates you to keep going? Although vicious enemies continually interrupted Nehemiah and the people of Israel, they persevered and completed the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem in just 52 days. (Crazy construction schedule) What obstacles are you facing these days? An enemy who’s trying to discourage you? A task that seems impossibly big? Don’t let the size of the task daunt you. If youre a believer, you’ve got a built-in Perseverance Coach, the Holy Spirit, who helps you to keep moving on. Keep it up!

Bits and Pieces

Some people think Christianity is just a straight-laced, guilt-trip religion. False! Knowing Jesus brings joy and strength to each day. Do you celebrate your faith or always keep a poker face?

• Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our LORD. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is our strength.” The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.” Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. ~Nehemiah 8:9-12

Love Always and Forever,

Cassandra Falun