DCLM Daily Manna 1 February 2022

Topic: Finishing Against Odds

TEXT: Nehemiah 6:15-19

KEY VERSE:
“And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of God.” – (Nehemiah 6:16)

DCLM Daily Manna 1 February 2022 OUTLINE

There is an abundance of unfinished and abandoned projects in every sphere of life. For each of these projects, there is at least a reason for the abandonment. One frequent reason is opposition from other people who do not want the project to see the light of day.

One historic civil project that was bound to be an abandoned project was the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem after Judah’s protracted Babylonian captivity. This project spearheaded and supervised by Nehemiah, suffered incredible oppositions from the enemies of Judah at that time, notably, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem. These men and their cohorts deployed ridicule, intimidation, confrontation, false accusation and insidiousness to halt the project. They failed. This is because Nehemiah and his team relied on divine support. They displayed uncommon commitment, unity, focus and consecration.

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Many noble projects have either been scuttled at the conception stage or abandoned midway because of the fear of enemies or opposers. In some cases, it is the crippling fear of failure that has kept some people from executing their God-given project. In the case of Nehemiah, he had every excuse not to actualise the God-given vision. But his vision trumped all his fears.

It may well be that God has laid something in your heart for you to execute – evangelism, Christian service, humanitarian project, career vision or other personal project – that has been stalled by fear. Take a cue from Nehemiah and his team. Prayerfully get started. In no time and to the glory of God, it shall be completed.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
An abandoned project is not a good Christian testimony.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Deuteronomy 1-3