You’re reading NEHEMIAH: LESSONS IN REBUILDING, by Eric Elder, featuring 15 inspiring devotionals based on one of the most ambitious rebuilding projects of all time. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 4:6

I was praying about my goals for the new year when I felt God saying to me, “Finish the ones from last year.” Three projects popped into my head that I’ve been working on but haven’t finished yet.  I wrote those down as my “new” goals for this year― to finish the old ones!

It’s easy to look at what’s “undone” in your life, but it’s just as important to look at what has been done already, to see just how far God has brought you.

Nehemiah paused in the midst of his story about rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem to take note of what had been accomplished so far.  It’s just one sentence, but it’s worth noting what he says:

“So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart” (Nehemiah 4:6). 

The people had worked with all their heart and now the wall was half-way finished.  I don’t know if you’re the type of person who sees half a glass of water as half-full or half-empty.  But today I want to encourage you to look at the projects you’re working on as half-full.  I also want to encourage you to dive into the rest of the project with all your heart.

In the movie, Fireproof, there’s a scene where the husband in the movie confesses that he was just going through the motions of trying to save his marriage, but that his heart wasn’t really in it.  Through prayer and a realization of just what this meant to him and his family, he was able to get his heart back in the game.  Rather than working out of duty, he began to work “with all his heart” like those in Nehemiah’s story did.  From that moment on, the husband’s work changed from a chore to a passion, and ended up saving his marriage in the end.

One way to help get your heart back in the game is to think about how far God has brought you already.

I like to keep a prayer journal and I often want to dive in by writing out all the questions that are on my mind, asking God for His help in walking me through each day.  But some time ago I decided to make it a habit to always begin my journal with the words, “Father, thank You…” and then write down several things for which I was truly thankful.  God will often bring to mind things He’s done for me, and the progress He’s helped me to make so far.  Once I see the glass as half-full, it prepares my heart to be ready to do whatever God says to fill the rest of the glass.

What has God brought you through this past year?  What has He helped you to accomplish?  What projects, goals, ambitions, dreams, desires were you able to start?  You may want to sit down for a few minutes today and just thank God for the progress you’ve made up to this point.  You may even want to write down some of the things He’s walked you through that you never thought you’d be able to do.  Once you see how far you’ve come, God can give you the heart to keep moving forward.  Then work at it with all your heart.  As the Apostle Paul told the Colossians:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Whether you’re moving forward with brand new goals, or moving forward to finish some old ones, remember that God really is for you in accomplishing what He’s put on your heart to do. He wants you to succeed at it.  He wants to walk with you through it.  He wants to help you day by day.  So take some time to remember what God has done for you so far, then “work with all your heart” to finish the good work He’s put on your heart to do.

Prayer: Father, thank You for all you’ve helped me to accomplish this far.  I pray that You would help me to “work with all my heart” to finish the work You’ve put on my heart.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.