Nehemiah has a good report in chapter 4: “So we built the wall, and all (of it) was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart and mind to work” (verse 6). Clearly, Nehemiah’s people were determined to work, even though their enemies came against them persistently. Even though their enemies were stubborn, they would not keep from building!

The enemy cannot hold you back if you are determined! You will have to be more determined than he is, but you can do it because God is on your side. The enemy may oppose you fiercely, but you can build your walls of protection and achieve your goals in life if you simply refuse to give up.

Not only did the walls begin to go up, but the breaches in the walls were being closed, the cracks were being sealed. This made Nehemiah’s enemies really furious.

I believe one of the benefits of you studying the life of Nehemiah is that the “cracks” in your life will be closed! Any places that may be weak in you are being strengthened as you learn how to be a person who never gives up. This makes the enemy angry, very angry, because he does not want you to move forward in God’s purpose for your life.

Some people become afraid when they think the enemy is angry, but there’s no need to fear. God is on your side, and He always leads you in triumph (see 2 Corinthians 2:14). To defeat an angry enemy, seek God, stay in His Word, worship Him, and pray as Nehemiah did. Do not allow yourself to think you have to try to defeat the devil on your own! Pray—keep on doing what you know God is telling you to do!

Nehemiah never stopped praying. We see him praying again in Nehemiah 4:9: “But because of them we made our prayer to our God and set a watch against them day and night.” In other words, they prayed consistently.

I encourage you to pray at all times, not just when you face a crisis. You do not need God only in the midst of disasters; you need Him all the time. Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer; because that is one way you build a wall of protection around yourself and those you love. Next week: FIGHT, DON’T FEAR.

By faith I keep pressing on!