We all have had a Babylonian Empire in our lives (people, relationships, habits, mindsets, etc.). At some point someone or something came and took you out of where God intended for you to be (physically, emotionally, and/or mentally). But like in the book of Ezra, you have returned to the place of God, to the right motives, the right state of mind, the right surroundings, but everything is DESTROYED! The first thing God wants to do is Rebuild his temple which is YOU (your heart, your mind, your body)! Because we know in 1 Corinthians 6:19, the bible tells us we are temples of the Holy Spirit. We cannot and are not going to do it Alone! There is a Remnant! There is a PEOPLE, there is a GOD that is in the process and wants to continue the process of Rebuilding your temple. But I believe the most critical part that God wants to do is Rebuild your WALL, the same way Nehemiah was used to Rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.
“Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”
(Nehemiah 2:17 NKJV)
The wall symbolizes PROTECTION, because what we need is to PROTECTwhat God is Rebuilding so it does not get destroyed AGAIN! This wall is not meant to shut out everyone and everything that tries to come in, but it is to shield you from the storms of this life, from the enemies trying to take you out, to secure your heart! But what I found interesting is that when the adversaries were aware Nehemiah and his people were making PROGRESS in rebuilding the wall, they planned to attack!
“Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.”
(Nehemiah 4:7-8 NKJV).
When you are making progress, the enemy knows and he comes forth with attack and confusion. In other words he brings DISTRACTION! But that is only a clear indication you are progressing, and it is the time to TRUST in God! Stay FOCUSED! Maybe you find yourself in a place that I often find myself in AGAIN! It’s this place of destruction, defeat, depression and total disaster! But WHY does this keep happening you may think? Why do I find myself in this place again God? Is it that you were not Rebuilt, Remade, Renewed, and Restored the last time? YOU WERE! The problem is you didn’t prepare your DEFENSE well! See this time, maybe it’s the 3rd time, maybe it’s the 30th time, but this time will be different. How? Let God Rebuild your temple AGAIN, and INTENTIONALLY prepare your defense, prepare your protection! Don’t think about how many times you found yourself in this predicament, don’t think about if God can truly Restore you and Remake you again because He CAN and WILL! Think about what failed last time, what was wrong with your play, how and when did the enemy gain access pass the wall of protection into your temple? Where was the gap?
While I was reading both these books, my heart was screaming PROTECT ME! My mind was screaming PROTECT ME! There was a peace inside that knows God will make me whole again, he will build me up again, that is not the problem. The problem is not being set free, it is STAYING free! The problem is not being restored, it is STAYING restored! The problem is not being made whole yet again, it is STAYING whole! What is your plan of defense?! Fix what failed!
BE STRATEGIC! FIGHT! LABOR! PRAY! READ! REFLECT!
#WEARECOMINGOUT
♥ Himilayan Salt ♥ 
Love this!!!
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