as we prepare our tools and focus our minds to build

As we desire to travel on the road towards restoration, firstly we must know who we are and whose we are. Nehemiah knew he was the man to bring consolation to his people and the bring revelation about what God intended to do at this juncture of his life. He also knew he had a heritage, which was conditional. His people, including his father had disobeyed the commandments of God and suffered the consequences of this. Unbelievers desecrated their place of worship and the walls to the city God gave to David as a place where his name should be revered forever, lay in ruins. However, Nehemiah had a ‘cushy’ life style. He was in a good job earning a good salary, but nonetheless was concerned about the state of his beloved city, Jerusalem. To start the process of restoration then, he started where all of us should start, with repentance. He confessed his and the sins of this fore-parents and petitioned God for forgiveness (1:11). In the second clause of verse 11, as he had done in the verse 6, he asks God to incline his ears to his prayer. These were not just ordinary prayer, there were prayers seasoned with fasting and repentance. He prayed and fasted for four months, petitioning and seeking God for a way to resolve the problem.

Today, as we take the first few steps towards wholeness, let us learn to repent by asking forgiveness and forgiving anyone who has harmed us. And let us remember that unforgiveness will keep us on the treadmill of resentment; revenge will keep you under the feet of your enemies whilst forgiveness will set you free and place you above them. So prepare by sharpening your tools, for there is a great work to complete.

Read Nehemiah 1:4-11.