52 Days. Day 49, Divine Strength.

Nehemiah 6:9 (NIV) “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."” This final part of Nehemiah’s story reminds us that our enemy attacks our inner-man with fear, with hopelessness, to cause us to be frightened so that we will stop doing the work of the Lord. Nehemiah calls out exactly what they were doing. They were trying to cause internal fears that would manifest in external weaknesses; that would shut them down. Throughout the Word of God, no one has been able to complete a God-given task without God-given strength. Our greatest example, Jesus the Christ, God manifest in flesh, the Word made visible, the arm of the Lord revealed, needed Divine strength in His body to face the ordeal of the cross. Nehemiah prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.” [In verses 10-14 Nehemiah tells how they were trying to frighten them, even as they were finishing the wall.] Hands carry rich symbolic meaning in Scripture. They often represent power, authority, action, blessing, judgment, protection, and fellowship. The call of our Lord is to put our hand to the plow and refuse to look back (Luke 9:62). What is causing you to look back? What is stirring up fear in you to cause you to doubt God? Shift your fears back into the realm of faith by lifting your hands in praise and surrender to God, asking Him to strengthen your hands.