Yesterday, at WonderWorks, we taught kids how to stick to it, even in the face of adversity. Our lesson was from Nehemiah, chapter 4. The Israelites were working to re-build the wall around Jerusalem, but were facing struggles from inside and outside their city. There was no actual fixed battle, but the war of words was intense! The enemy was almost able to overcome their efforts by simply taunting and threatening.
I pointed out three things to the children. #1 God helps us FIGHT. #2 God helps us FOCUS. #3 God helps us FINISH. Interestingly, I asked the kids if they had ever stopped doing something they loved because other children made fun of them. Hands went flying up! One child shared about giving up flying his kite because another boy made fun of its design. Another young man said he quit riding his bike while he was trying to learn, because he was teased for being uncoordinated as he learned.
Our kids felt the heart of this lesson deeply. I think adults do as well. Quitting can become a habit, and after a while, we find ourselves surrounded by the rubble of unfinished plans. Like the torn down wall around Jerusalem, these experiences rock our confidence and tear down our persevearance.
The Israelites REMEMBERED God was on their side, and fighting with them. They didn't just pray about it. They prayed and worked! They also REDEEMED the stones. Each building block has to be handled with care and cleaned to be useful again. This was a very focused effort. The stones had to fit together, and they had to follow a plan. It took time. Every big decision to start something, must be followed by hundreds of little decisions to keep moving forward. Finally, they RESOLVED to take it personally. They were fighting for their families. For their sons and daughters. Something was at stake!
Prayer:
Lord, help me to fight, help me to focus, and help me to finish!
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a goodwork in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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