February 10, 2026
- djohnstoncc
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
BUILDING THROUGH THE BATTLE
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. All the builders had a sword belted to their side.”
Nehemiah 4:17-18 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Nehemiah had a comfortable life as the cupbearer to the Persian King. But his heart was in the ruins of Jerusalem. The walls—the city's only source of safety and identity—lay in charred rubble. With the King’s permission, Nehemiah returned to rebuild.
But as soon as the work began, the enemies emerged. Nehemiah realized that he couldn’t just be a builder; he had to be a soldier.
The Four Forces of Opposition
When you invite the Holy Spirit to rebuild the broken areas of your life, you will face opposition. It usually comes from four distinct directions:
The Internal Struggle (Me): Rebuilding requires changing habits and exiting comfort zones. A part of us will always resist the "new nature" because the "old nature" is familiar.
The Status Quo (Other People): Sometimes, even good people are bothered by your growth. Your progress might shine a light on their stagnation, causing them to push back against your changes.
Culture (The World): The world system is designed to keep you in the "rubble." You will hear voices of mockery asking, "Do you really think you can change?"
The Enemy (Satan): He is the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He is never more active than when he sees a believer being molded into the image of Christ.
The Two-Handed Life
Nehemiah’s solution was brilliant: the people worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. This is the "dual posture" of the Christian life.
The Trowel (Work): We must do the daily work of prayer, study, service, and yield to the Spirit. We are builders of the Kingdom.
The Sword (Warfare): We must remain vigilant. We cannot afford to be naive about the battle. We must be ready to defend our peace, our focus, and our progress against criticism and spiritual attack.
Expect the Friction
Nehemiah didn't stop building because he was criticized; he simply put his armor on. If you are facing friction today, don't take it as a sign that you are on the wrong path. It is often a sign that the "walls" of your life are becoming a threat to the kingdom of darkness.
Keep your trowel in one hand and your sword in the other.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit I pray for help to rebuild the broken places of my life. Give me the strength to work on my character and the discernment to fight the battles that come with growth. I refuse to let criticism stop my progress. I am a builder and a soldier. Amen.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
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