Shut the Door on Distractions
Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. —Nehemiah 6:1-2 NLT
eventually you’ll have nothing to give to
The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king.” —Nehemiah 6:5-6 NLT
I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.” —Nehemiah 6:8 NLT
They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination. —Nehemiah 6:9 NLT
Later I went to visit Shemaiah …. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.” —Nehemiah 6:10 NLT
But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!” I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me. —Nehemiah 6:11-13 NLT
And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” —Nehemiah 6:3 ESV
Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me. So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. —Nehemiah 6:14-15 NLT
When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. —Nehemiah 6:16 NLT
Recognize that broken focus will destroy your
Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. —James 1:8 NIV
Take personal
The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them. —Ezekiel 18:20 NIV
Control what enters your
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. —Proverbs 4:23 NKJV
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. —2 Timothy 4:9-10 NIV