Much of my spiritual life, I’ve realized, has been outwardly focused. I’ve spent a lot of time building up others in their walk with the Lord, while completely neglecting my own relationship with my Savior. I’ve led Bible studies and been a camp counselor and directed an entire middle school church ministry, all while my spiritual “cup” was empty. I can’t help but think, how much more powerful would those ministries have been if I was in tune with the Spirit?
I think it’s time to change.
In the book of Nehemiah we see a man with a very specific calling from God: go home and rebuild the city. Nehemiah, with great courage, asked the king (his boss who could command someone be killed if they were even sad in his presence) if he could take supplies and have free passage to return home to rebuild the city. The king said yes. Wow.
So Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall around the city in order to protect it, when neighbors saw that their once easy break and enter and steal strategies would no longer be effective. They came up with a plan to stop the work of rebuilding the wall by distracting Nehemiah. They invited him to come down off the wall to meet them for lunch. Nehemiah saw right through that plan, knowing their intentions, and said, “I am doing a great work and I can not come down.”
He took a stand. It’s time I do too.
Here at Kedesh in Mozambique, we are simply living life together. It’s the boys summer break now, so they do chores and play a lot of games. I can see that God has me planted here right now in order to slow down, step away from distractions and do a great work by “building the wall” in my relationship with God. I crave intimacy/connection with Him like never before. I’ve realized how I ave lived in the sphere of Christianity and thought I was in the right place, but that there’s more work to be done and I’ve missed something far greater: real relationship with Jesus. He is alive PTL!
Have you missed it too? Do you crave closeness with God? Join me. Hop on the wall and take time to build the wall, brick by brick in a personal relationship with our Savior. One step at a time is great. Take a moment to realize where you are with Jesus, have a “relationship defining talk” with Him and be real. Be okay with where you are now, but take a stand like I have been inspired by Nehemiah’s story to do, and say, “I’m doing a great work and I can not come down.”
Keep building.
God Bless,
Jess
Love and miss you all!!
