Brick by Brick

The wall of Jerusalem was in shambles. The Israelites had been exiled from their country, then allowed to return.

Ezra had rebuilt the temple, but the city walls were destroyed, and its gates were burned to the ground. A city without a wall is vulnerable to attack. Something had to be done.

When Nehemiah heard about the state of Jerusalem, God’s holy city, he wept. God was preparing Nehemiah to do something great, but first, Nehemiah needed to be broken.

In Nehemiah 1 prays a prayer of brokenness;

Nehemiah 1:5-7

Then I said, “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.

Nehemiah acknowledged his sin, he didn’t try to hide behind a corporate “We have sinned…” No, Nehemiah broke before God and admitted his own need of forgiveness.

Like the wall, Nehemiah was ready to be rebuilt. But how?

Nehemiah 1:8-9 “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’”

Nehemiah reminded God of His promises. God hadn’t forgotten them, but there is something powerful in praying God’s promises back to Him. In essence, we are telling God, “I know you said this, and I am putting my faith in you keeping your promises.”

Psalms 81:10 says, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.”

Did you notice the steps there? “Open your mouth wide” THEN “I will fill it with good things…”

God will rebuild us, but it begins with being broken. As we pour out our hearts to God, he begins pouring into our lives. Brick by brick, block by block, God builds us up, pouring good things into us, if we will open our mouths wide and let him.

I am in the rebuilding phase. Brick by brick, block by block, I can feel God restoring me. There has been a lot of repenting, crying, and feeling sorry for myself. I have been broken, but God has begun pouring into me. I still have rough days, but God is in those days, too. I fall, get back up, dust off my britches, and try again. Opening my mouth to sing God’s praises and remind myself of His promises.

Trust me, my mouth is wide open for His blessings!