Nehemiah

August 10

Nehemiah 2:4-15

During the night… when all was quiet

When Nehemiah told the king why he was so sad, King Artaxerxes said, “You should go to the land of Judah and rebuild the walls of the city where your people live.”

The king then gave Nehemiah a letter for the keeper of the king’s forest, instructing him to supply wood for the city gates. He even sent army officers along to protect the group of Jews traveling back with Nehemiah.

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he did not tell anyone why he had come. After three days, he and a few close friends slipped out at night to inspect the broken wall. They made their way through the darkness, going from one broken gate to another, looking at what needed to be done to rebuild the wall. Then they returned home.

How should I go about tackling a big task?

You are not likely to be asked to build a city wall, but you may have a school project or task that seems as big as a wall. For Nehemiah, rebuilding a wall of heavy stones all around the city was a huge task—too big to rush into without careful planning.

Here are some thoughts that will help you get started:

• Pray for God’s help before you begin.

• Ask God to give you good ideas and guide you as you work.

• Set goals. If the project must be completed by a certain day, divide the work into smaller tasks for each day. Remember, it will probably take a little longer than you think.

• Plan the task. What materials will you need? How much will it cost? Will you need help? What could go wrong?

• Do your best. God is honored by a job well done.

Whether you need to complete a huge task or make an important decision, do not rush into it. First talk to the Lord about it, and He will guide you as you make your plans (Proverbs 3:5–6).

Verse for today

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? Luke 14:28