Defending The Vision
Defending The Vision
The Power of A Vision
Nehemiah 4:7-9
7 Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the [a]gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, 8 and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. 9 Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.
Nehemiah had a burden and a desire to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and that desire came from God. Just because something is of God does not mean that it will be smooth sailing all the way. Nehemiah faced a lot of opposition and so will you and I when we embark on fulfilling Gods vision for our lives!
Like Nehemiah we will have to stand our ground and defend the vision in the face of opposition and be assured, opposition will come. Nehemiah faced apathy, anger and ridicule from those who opposed the vision but he did not relent.
He defended the vision in prayer and that has to be the first place we run to because remember the vision is not ours but it belongs to God and besides the bible reminds us that the battles does not belong to us, it belongs to the Lord! Also the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God.
Not only did Nehemiah pray but he also set watch over the vision day and night. At one point the builders had a sword in one hand and with the other hand they were building.
Just because there was a threat from the enemy did not mean that the work had to stop, the work continued! You and I must also arise in faith and keep working on the vision, we should not allow fear to paralyze or stop us.
At one point when the enemy realized that his threats were not working, he tried to distract Nehemiah from the work he was doing, Nehemiah responded by saying that “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down!” He would not allow anything to take his focus off of the walls he was rebuilding.
May God give us the courage to stand and defend the vision that he has deposited in our hearts!
Reflections
What are some of the issues you have had to fight to keep the vision alive?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nehemiah kept prayer alive, what does that teach you when it comes to defending the vision?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sometimes the enemy will bring along a good thing to distract you from the vision, how do you deal with that?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your prayers and support for this Morning Devotion Ministry. God bless you more.
©James Okumu
