Have A Clear Plan of Action
Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!"
So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. At that time I also said to the people, "Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day." Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off their clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water. Neh. 4:19-23
So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. At that time I also said to the people, "Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day." Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off their clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water. Neh. 4:19-23
Nehemiah had a winning strategy to accomplish his vision: God and man; Prayer and Hard Work. The vision of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem was from God. It was God who stirred his heart with the assignment, and it was God who gave him favor before the king to release him for the task, along with the necessary resources and political favor.
Nehemiah depended on God for favor and protection, but it is also evident that he planned carefully and worked very hard. As the saying goes, "failing to plan is planning to fail." God expects us to plan and prepare knowing that, ultimately, He is the source of our victory. The Bible declares in Proverbs 19:21. "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails." This tells us that God expects us to make plans, but we must seek His counsel as to which of our plans are in line with His purposes because only those kinds of plans will prevail or be successful.
Nehemiah was a very effective planner, organizer, and executor. He prayed, but he also planned and executed well.
First: Upon arrival in Jerusalem, he discretely inspected the condition of the walls and gates to assess the nature and volume of the task ahead. This enabled him to speak intelligently with the leaders and the people about what they needed to do in order to rebuild.
Second: When the Jews were faced with threats, Nehemiah put a strategy in place: "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall... Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!" This strategic plan ensured that a fighting force could quickly be assembled to resist any surprise attack from the enemy. You must always have a plan and strategy in place to protect from any attacks that would seek to derail you from accomplishing your goals. Nehemiah was ever ready to fight even as he and the Jews worked tirelessly at rebuilding from early morning to late at night: "Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off their clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water."
The Scripture makes it clear that God knows the plans He has for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Question: If God has a plan to prosper you; do you have a plan to carry out that divine plan in your life? Are you just praying without planning effectively and without working hard to accomplish those plans? Remember: Jesus was slain before the foundation of the earth but the Bible also makes it clear that in the fullness of time, God sent Jesus to be born as a man to work out that plan of salvation in a tangible way.
So, what's your plan for the business you have been dreaming about for years? What's your plan to move ahead on your job and in your career? What's your plan for your Church ministry to flourish? What's your plan for your marriage to succeed? What's your plan to get out of debt? What's your plan to get married? Are you prepared for that blessing? What's your plan for your children to reach their full potential? Are you involved in their lives in a tangible way to guide and encourage them or are you leaving it all to "chance"? God has plans for you. God has ordained good works for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). But, do you have a plan to carry them out?
Nehemiah depended on God for favor and protection, but it is also evident that he planned carefully and worked very hard. As the saying goes, "failing to plan is planning to fail." God expects us to plan and prepare knowing that, ultimately, He is the source of our victory. The Bible declares in Proverbs 19:21. "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails." This tells us that God expects us to make plans, but we must seek His counsel as to which of our plans are in line with His purposes because only those kinds of plans will prevail or be successful.
Nehemiah was a very effective planner, organizer, and executor. He prayed, but he also planned and executed well.
First: Upon arrival in Jerusalem, he discretely inspected the condition of the walls and gates to assess the nature and volume of the task ahead. This enabled him to speak intelligently with the leaders and the people about what they needed to do in order to rebuild.
Second: When the Jews were faced with threats, Nehemiah put a strategy in place: "The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall... Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!" This strategic plan ensured that a fighting force could quickly be assembled to resist any surprise attack from the enemy. You must always have a plan and strategy in place to protect from any attacks that would seek to derail you from accomplishing your goals. Nehemiah was ever ready to fight even as he and the Jews worked tirelessly at rebuilding from early morning to late at night: "Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off their clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water."
The Scripture makes it clear that God knows the plans He has for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Question: If God has a plan to prosper you; do you have a plan to carry out that divine plan in your life? Are you just praying without planning effectively and without working hard to accomplish those plans? Remember: Jesus was slain before the foundation of the earth but the Bible also makes it clear that in the fullness of time, God sent Jesus to be born as a man to work out that plan of salvation in a tangible way.
So, what's your plan for the business you have been dreaming about for years? What's your plan to move ahead on your job and in your career? What's your plan for your Church ministry to flourish? What's your plan for your marriage to succeed? What's your plan to get out of debt? What's your plan to get married? Are you prepared for that blessing? What's your plan for your children to reach their full potential? Are you involved in their lives in a tangible way to guide and encourage them or are you leaving it all to "chance"? God has plans for you. God has ordained good works for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). But, do you have a plan to carry them out?
Prayer: Father, It is clear that you have good works that you have written in your book for me to carry out. Please help me to plan with wisdom and work hard to carry them out in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.