Nehemiah is one of the most fascinating characters in the Bible. He was a man of prayer, faith, and action who lived during a difficult time in the history of Israel. Despite the challenges he faced, Nehemiah’s reliance on the Holy Spirit enabled him to accomplish amazing things in a short amount of time.
The Old Testament book that bears his name tells the story of Nehemiah. He was a Jewish exile who had risen to the position of cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes. One day, Nehemiah received news that the walls of Jerusalem were in ruins and the gates had been burned down. He was deeply troubled by this news and felt a burden to do something about it.
Nehemiah’s first instinct was to turn to the Holy Spirit. He spent days fasting and praying, seeking God’s guidance and wisdom. In Nehemiah 1:11, he prayed, “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Here, Nehemiah acknowledges that he is powerless on his own and that he needs God’s help to accomplish his mission.
Holy Spirit Help
After seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Nehemiah began to take action. He presented his plan to the king and received permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. Despite opposition from neighboring tribes and various setbacks, Nehemiah’s reliance on the Holy Spirit helped him to overcome every obstacle.
Nehemiah was able to rally the people of Jerusalem to work together towards a common goal. In just 52 days, they were able to rebuild the walls and gates of the city. This was an incredible achievement, considering that the walls had been in ruins for over 100 years.
Nehemiah’s example teaches us the importance of seeking the Holy Spirit first and relying on Him to accomplish our goals. Like Nehemiah, we too may face daunting challenges and seemingly insurmountable obstacles in our lives. However, when we turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance, we can have confidence that He will give us the wisdom and strength we need to overcome these challenges.
Holy Spirit and Action
In addition to seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Nehemiah’s story also teaches us the importance of taking action. Nehemiah didn’t just pray and hope that God would magically rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He took action and led the people to do the work. The Holy Spirit assures us of His guidance in taking the necessary steps to accomplish our goals when we rely on Him.
Nehemiah’s story is a powerful reminder that when we seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and rely on Him, we can accomplish amazing things in a short amount of time. May we follow Nehemiah’s example and turn to the Holy Spirit first in all of our endeavors, trusting that He will give us the wisdom, strength, and courage we need to succeed.