Nehemiah 1- 6

5-4-3-2-1! We all scream happy New Year and we begin to hug our loved ones and close friends near us, promising that the upcoming year will be the best yet. With our new year’s resolution, we vow to take steps toward our goals that we’ve put to the back.

We believe this is the year we get back on track, whether it be financially, relationally, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally. We say things like, “This is the beginning of the greatest year of my life.” Then comes ferocious February, mental madness March, agonizing April, mundane May, and joyless June. At the risk of running out of adjectives to describe the month, you get the point.

Between January 1 and December 31 life just seems to happen. You bought all the workout equipment, but your schedule became too busy for you to get to the ideal weight you’ve always wanted. You believed you would be financially free, until you were laid off, losing the one paycheck that would pay off the credit cards. Instead of being on the offensive, you find yourself having to react to everything that comes your way.

I know this reads tough but trust me it gets better. You proclaimed 2015 to be your most prosperous year yet, but it would seem that it has been anything but. By mid-spring we put off our promises, throwing in the towel on the year, believing that it will somehow happen in the year to come.

Good News

Okay, now to the good part.

I’ve got breaking news that will brighten up your day: THE YEAR ISN’T OVER YET!

We have nine months down and three to go. That means there’s still time to make a fourth quarter comeback. There’s still an opportunity to make this the best year of your life, with key decisions that will be the catalyst to your life transformation now and in the year to come. If you think this sounds impossible, it’s okay, but I’ve got a story to prove it.

Nehemiah

The Bible gives us the story of Nehemiah, a cupbearer to the king of Persia (1:11) who faced the tragedy of his people being left without protection in Israel due to the desolation of the Jerusalem wall (1:3).

What should excite us about this story is it shows that with our willingness and the help of God, we can have a quick turnaround. A fourth quarter comeback, if you will. Nehemiah goes on to repair and rebuild the entire wall of Jerusalem in just 52 days (6:15). While this is a great feat,  it’s imperative that we investigate the keys to Nehemiah’s swift turnaround to see how we can apply them to our life.

Keys to Your Comeback

1. Nehemiah prays that God would grant him favor with the king (1:11)

Pray and believe that God has granted you the favor necessary to accomplish the goals you’ve set that would align your life with His purpose.

2. Ask God to bring you into contact with divine relationships that will help accomplish the goal (2:7-9)

Where God guides, He always provides. God will not lead you into something without giving you the resources necessary to accomplish the task. Pray and ask God to show you the open doors of provision. You will not have to look very far or hard if you’re in the will of God.

3. Have the discipline to continue to work in spite of distractions and negative people (4:1- 3, 6:1- 4)

Sanballat and Tobiah ridiculed Nehemiah and the Jewish people. Like a negative co-worker or family member in your life, they were challenging the strength of what was being built. This only grows in chapter six, when Sanballat and Tobiah tried to adjust their distractive strategy, but by this point Nehemiah was so determined to complete the task nothing could stand in his way (6:3-4).

4. Remain flexible enough to be willing to adjust your strategy (4:15-23)

Sometimes we start the year with great plans, but life happens. When we run into an obstacle we either give up or try to stick with the same plan, even when it no longer fits. Nehemiah does not make the mistake of having a plan, but rather not being willing to make adjustments. Fortunately, Nehemiah was flexible enough to see his enemy’s distractive tactics and make the necessary adjustments to see the fulfillment of the work. Have a strategy, develop a plan, but always look to make adjustments when necessary.

5. With Godly wisdom, you must be willing to make a sacrifice (4:21- 23)

Maybe there’s been something you’ve been putting off all year. Maybe the first step to financial freedom is to make a few cutbacks. Review your life and with the help of God, make decisions to change quickly.

It’s not too late.

This last quarter of the year can turn your 2015 around and become the steps that lead to a prosperous 2016. Maybe waiting until January 1 is just too late. Make the tough decisions now and begin living your transformed life the second the clock strikes midnight of the New Year. This is just the discipline that can lead to you having a great 2016.

Prayer of Faith

Wherever you are right now, pray:

Lord Jesus, I believe You can turn this year around for me as quickly as you did Nehemiah. I pray for Your favor to grant me what is needed to accomplish the goal. Lead me into divine relationships and bless me with the discipline necessary to finish this year strong. I’m believing in You for a transformed life of purpose that will propel me into the year to come; in Jesus name I pray, Amen!