Day 17: For your families and your homes

Do not 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 houses! (Neh. 4:14)

Nehemiah inspired the people by giving them two antidotes for fear. The first antidote was to remember the Lord. After all, was He not the awesome God who had called them to the work?

Secondly, Nehemiah told them to think about their homes and their families. By thinking about the needs of their loved ones they could find it within themselves to put away narrow self-interest and work harder to ensure a good, godly future for those they cared about.

Heavenly Father, let us work and give with the spiritual needs and the spiritual future of our families constantly before our eyes. We will labor with confidence in You, reminding ourselves that You are powerful and awesome in Your might!