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Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:14-23

One of the most powerful scenes in the Lord of the Rings trilogy comes in the final movie, when Aragorn implores his men not to give in to fear, but to fight for what they hold dear.  Riding his horse back and forth in front of his troops, Aragorn calls out:

“I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!”

If you find yourself overwhelmed by fears today, don’t let them take your heart!  If God has called you into this battle, don’t give in to your fears.  Fight for what you hold dear.  Fight for your faith.  Fight for your marriage.  Fight for your children, your business, your friends, your family, your neighbors, your ministry, your health, your career.

Fight the way Nehemiah encouraged his people to fight when they came under attack:  Nehemiah called out:

“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes” (Nehemiah 4:14).

Nehemiah didn’t discount that the battle was real.  He encouraged the people to remember the Lord who had called them into this battle in the first place.  But Nehemiah didn’t stop there.  He didn’t throw up his hands in despair and act as if the battle would go away on its own.  He called on his people to prepare for battle.

He called for half the men to keep on working, and he equipped the other half of the men with spears, shields, bows and armor to stand guard behind the workers.  He had those who carried materials do their work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other.  And he had those who worked with both their hands still wear a sword at their side.

He had a man stay with him at all times who could sound a trumpet.  He knew that the work was extensive and the workers were widely separated from each other, so he told them,

“Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” (Nehemiah 4:20).

Even though Nehemiah fully trusted that God would fight for them, he still armed his people so that God could fight through them.  If God  has called you into this battle, He’s certainly willing to fight for you.  But don’t be surprised if He chooses to fight through you, too!

Nehemiah and his people worked from the first light of dawn till the stars came out, and they stayed inside the city at night.  Neither he nor his brothers nor the guards with him even took off their clothes.  Each had their weapon, even when they went for water.

Nehemiah’s plan worked, and God’s plan kept moving forward.  The same wisdom that worked for Nehemiah can work for you, too.  Look to the Lord and follow His lead.

Work with one hand and hold a weapon in the other.  If the work is too extensive and spread out, sound the trumpet and call for help.  Work all day, but stay in at night.  Don’t let your guard down, even when you go for water.

A day may come when the courage of men fails…but it is not this day! This day we fight!  Don’t give in to fear.  Don’t give up on the work God has called you to do. And don’t turn your back on the battle, either.  At the risk of sounding repetitive, I want to repeat Nehemiah’s quote just one more time!

“Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Don’t give in to fear.  Fight for what you hold dear!

Prayer: Father, help me to fight the good fight of faith today.  Help me to look to You so that I can follow Your lead.  Show me what I can do today to fight for what I hold dear.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.