7 Lessons From the Book of Nehemiah to Help Us Fulfill Our Assignment on Earth

 

by Barbara Latta

Do you ever get confused about your purpose in life? What assignment do you feel God wants you to accomplish?

Well, our first desire should be to glorify God in all we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). As we give Him the glory, we can learn a lot from Nehemiah about fulfilling the objective God has called us to achieve.

For example, I feel called to write. I didn’t pursue this plan in my younger years, but I never had a settled feeling until I started to seek this goal. Each of us has reason to be here. Until we discover that calling, we will not be fulfilled.

These 7 lessons can help you define your purpose in life.

1. Examine your desires. Nehemiah was sad until he started his quest. His beloved Jerusalem lay in ruins. His broken heart reflected in his countenance. (Nehemiah 2:1-5). What causes you to want to fix a problem? As long as our desires line up with the Word of God and are not selfish or greedy, we can ask God to help us achieve them.

2. Avoid excuses. Nehemiah served where he was (2:1). He was captive in a foreign land, yet he still served with excellence (as did Daniel and his friends). He didn’t make excuses about his limitations. No mission is insignificant. Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king. He could have viewed his position as inferior, yet he was in the right place to seek the king’s audience.

Let your light so shine before me that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16)

3. Ignore comparison. Viewing another person’s success will take our eyes off what we need to be doing. Nehemiah didn’t use his servitude to wish he was in a different position. When Peter questioned Jesus about John’s destiny, Jesus told Peter, “What is that to you, you follow Me (John 21:22). Each person’s calling is unique and doesn’t belong to someone else, nor do theirs belong to us.

In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul talks about the body having many parts. Each part has a reason to be there and without each one fulfilling their purpose, the whole body will suffer.

4. Remain faithful to the end. Because Nehemiah was faithful to finish the task God called him to do, Nehemiah had favor with a pagan king (2:7-9).

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

5. Pursue despite opinions of others. What you are called to do may not set well with other people. There may be persecution of some kind. Mockery didn’t sway Nehemiah from his purpose (Nehemiah 2:19-20).

In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33)

6. Eliminate confusion and distraction. The enemy used confusion to try to distract Nehemiah (4:8). Other people can also be used by our enemy, satan, to distract us from staying focused on what God has put on our hearts. When confusion sets in, instead of quitting, spend quiet time with God and get your mind back on track. Realize this is a ploy to get you out of the race.

Therefore, submit to God; Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

7. Celebrate victories and thank God for what was accomplished through His power. Nehemiah celebrated when the wall was rebuilt and thanked God (8:12).

While our assignment doesn’t end until we meet God face to face, we can praise Him for each milestone we reach and glorify His name while reaching the next one. When we celebrate victories, our faith will grow.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts. What biblical character is an inspiration to you?

 7 Lessons from the book of Nehemiah to help us fulfill our assignment on earth (click to share on X)

Image by Ralf Ruppert from Pixabay

What the World Needs Now is Love

 

by Barbara Latta

There’s an old song that states, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” The truth is the world doesn’t just need love now; the world has always needed love.

The political fireballs burning now spit sparks across the land. Opinions fly based on which news cast was watched.  We can debate these happenings without a solution until the blaze burns hotter because governments can’t transform a person’s heart.

While programs and laws can help bring temporary change, only the Lord God Almighty, who created the heavens, the earth, and humanity has the answer.

And the answer is repentance and humility toward Him. Violence stems from hatred, and hatred is born from a soul that is separated from God.

We throw the word love around like it’s a catch phrase for all kinds of feelings. We love our families, our dog, chocolate, or our car. Each of these have a different attachment to our lives, but we reference them with the same word.

What is real love?

4 Ways Fear Influences Us and Solutions for Peaceful Thoughts

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

We have all faced fear at some time in our lives. The violence affecting our world today can instill apprehension if we allow these images to take precedence over our thoughts.

If we give in, anxiety can deter us from success in our lives and can cause physical health problems.

Here are 4 ways fear influences us:

Change Your Thinking About Goals and Resolutions to Achieve Better Success

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Do you get a little frustrated or discouraged each January when you read blogs and articles about new ways to enhance your life? We may feel as if it didn’t do any good last year, so why bother to set a new goal.

Our emotions can grow downtrodden when we view change through the lens of what other people are doing and have accomplished. Photos of toned exercise gurus, AI models, and organizational queens draw us to compare and know we can never reach the pinnacle of success we see.

But we shouldn’t depend upon another human or a robot image to be our savior. The only time we are called to emulate another person is if they are following Christ. And even then, we should use discernment, as Christian people still fail at times.

Our goal or resolution list can be one that provides encouragement and success rather than depression and failure. Whatever you wish to accomplish this year, support that goal with God’s Holy Word. Failure comes when we put pressure on ourselves for change. Most resolutions people make are based on behavior modification which is determined by our own willpower. We can grow weary of trying.

Rather than concentrating on what WE need to do to improve the way we live, we can focus on what JESUS already did for us.

Maybe It's Time to Pause

 

This week we are honored to hear from Jeanne Doyon. I met Jeanne a few years ago through several writing websites we both participate in. Her writing has been a great blessing to me. She shares about pausing to refresh yourself in the Lord. What better way to start a new year than to let go of the hectic schedules of the holiday season. Links to her website and other teaching are in her bio. Please take the time to visit these resources and you can be inspired to find refreshment for your soul. 

Maybe it's Time to Pause.

@jeannedoyon

@barbaralatta

            Were your holidays harried? Life feeling a little out of control? Too many distractions and not enough brain cells? Can you relate? With the holidays behind us and the new year before us, I'm hoping for some space to refresh my spirit. This past year was challenging for me too. The winter season is the perfect time to recharge and reflect. Maybe it's time to pause.

            Here in New England, winter is beautiful yet very stark. Daylight retreats by 4:00. The trees are gray and bare against the blue sky. We bundle up in coats, scarves, gloves, and hats just to get the mail. Travel becomes discretionary depending on the road conditions. Yet the crisp beauty is unmatched when freshly fallen snow clings to tree branches and glistens like diamonds across the yard.

            To me, winter is the perfect time to enjoy my home while watching snow fall. It's a natural slow-down my body needs while looking forward to porch time and my gardens. Because in the stillness, I can hear God's voice a bit easier. My heart can pause. My mind rest. Renewal comes.

            God's order of creation rotates through budding life, growth, fading strength, and dormancy. The good news is, even in the sleepiness of winter, new life is coming.

Why is Jesus Called the Only Begotten Son of God?

 by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Why is Jesus called the only begotten Son of God? Because He is the only one who was born from a miraculous conception to a virgin. He was begotten from God, His parent, and formed in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit. No one else has ever been or ever will be born in this way. 

Jesus was born as the only begotten Son of God so He could be our redeemer. No one else could pay for our sin.

He came as the heartbeat, the central theme, of Christmas.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

These Scriptures also tell us that Jesus was and is the Begotten Son of God:

Lessons From Linus That Show Us What Christmas is All About

 Lessons from Linus That Show Us What Christmas is All About

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

I love Charlie Brown. Maybe because I can identify with his feelings of inadequacy sometimes. But I also love his tenacity. He keeps going even when his emotions knock him down.

When he picked a scraggly sapling as a Christmas tree and placed it on top of Schroeder’s piano, pine needles trickled down with tinkling sound effects reflecting the sad state of his choice.

 Do you remember how the children reacted? They moaned, groaned, and complained about this not-so- beautiful symbol of the holiday.

After Charlie left the building with the sad little tree, he placed it in front of Snoopy’s doghouse. The other children soon followed.

Do you remember what Linus did? He said, “I never thought it was such a bad tree. All it needs is a little love.” He then separated himself from his security blanket and placed it around the base of the evergreen.

These lessons from Linus can show us what Christmas is all about.