Broken Walls - Part 2

Last week I mentioned that there are some areas of my life that feel a little out of control. Now I’ve decided that it’s really not wise for me to voice that, because I don’t want to give Satan a foothold and be in agreement with him. Instead, I’ve decided to ask God to take control and rebuild my crumbling walls of self-control. (Remember Proverbs 25:28 (NIV), “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”)

We saw in Nehemiah 1 that Nehemiah prayed, fasted and confessed his sins because the broken walls of Jerusalem reflected badly on God. In a similar way, our broken and crumbling walls of self-control reflect badly on God. As Nehemiah prayed, God gave him a detailed plan of how to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Like Nehemiah, we can receive clarity from God as we pray, and yes, even fast if that’s what God calls us to, in order to hear from Him. When God gives you a plan, He will help you work through it as you rely on Him.

Our walls won’t be rebuilt on hopes and dreams -- it’s going to require some hard work. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So, does this qualify you as being insane? Are you doing the same things but hoping for different results? You’re going to have to change what you’re doing. Remember that God is not responsible to bless your mess. Find out what He’s calling you to do in order to rebuild your broken walls. When He calls you to do it, He’ll help you through it.

After Nehemiah got the “OK” to rebuild the walls, he took the time to view the walls personally. So have you taken a good look at your broken walls? Perhaps by looking closely you can gain some insight into what caused the wall to crumble in the first place. For the Israelites, it was disobedience. Is there an area of disobedience that you need to bring into submission to Christ?

As you work on rebuilding your broken walls, be aware that the enemy will attack. The enemy attacked Nehemiah and the Israelites, and he will attack you. Be prepared.

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) – "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Nehemiah set up watchmen to keep an eye out for the enemy and so should you. You can do this by asking the Holy Spirit to give you discernment and make you aware of the enemy’s schemes. You can also ask your Christian family and friends to be watchmen for you by praying on your behalf. Ask God to cover you with a hedge of protection, knowing that if the enemy does attack, then God is allowing it for a very good reason, even if you don’t understand what that reason is. God is only going to allow those things that are for your good and that will make you stronger. But God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). You may just have to wait until you’re in heaven to ask why He has allowed some of the things that He’s allowed in your life.

Nehemiah 4:6 (NIV) – “…and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”

As you have a “mind to work” on rebuilding your broken walls you will see milestones to success as what was once crumbling walls begin to be joined together, strengthened and built up higher and higher into a mighty fortress that will be used greatly by God!

@Copyright 2010 LVC Ministries, Inc.