a Prayer for Strength

Read Nehemiah 6:1-9
Reading throughout the book of Nehemiah as he takes on this enormous task we see this Sanballat guy popping up in several places, being a bully to Nehemiah and the Israelites. They’re upset that Israel is working at building its wall. They are doing all they can to distract them from doing their work and attempting to frighten them with threats. This is how Nehemiah responds:

• Strengthen my hands
• Strengthen my vision
• Strengthen my determination
• Strengthen my resolve

Isaiah 35:3  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 

Nehemiah admits that they were afraid, but he didn’t run. 5 times they come against him with the same attack. 5 times he responds with the same answer. His confidence in God does not waver. Instead he prays, 

"O God, strengthen my hands."

​This is a great example of how to respond to trouble. When the whisper of the enemy screams in your ear that the best thing to do is to give up. When he attempts to persuade you that it’s not worth the fight, that you’ll never accomplish anything, that you will never succeed as a minister, then that’s when we must also declare: “O God, strengthen my hands”!

Strength is never gained without struggle. Why do you think we sweat after a run or have sore muscles after a rough workout? 

"Will they fortify themselves?"
This question is asked by one of Nehemiah’s pesky enemies, Sanballat.

Nehemiah 4:2  And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?

The word "fortify" means to make stronger; toughen; defend; protect.

The word "fortify" means to make stronger; toughen; defend; protect. ​

Doesn't this sound like a tactic of the devil: to mock, to ridicule, to destroy all hope? He knows that by the power of Christ we can be made stronger in spite of weaknesses. Do you think he’s going to sit back and allow us grow stronger this without a fight? Think again. This is accomplished through prayer, fasting, sacrifice, or surrender. Or all of it. It’s not gained by sitting on a pew waiting for that unshakable faith we read about to hit us in the face. Remember, Nehemiah was busy doing the Lord’s work when the enemy came against him. His first recognition was one we all forget. He knew where his strength came from.

Pray the prayer of Nehemiah - "Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." when you lack the strength, the resolve, the determination, and the vision to continue your journey of faith. ​

Psalm 18:32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.