Rebuilding
Friday September 23, 2016
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. (Proverbs 25:28 NIV)
What a picture this proverb gives to us who have come out of a chaotic lifestyle. The walls of the city are broken down and anyone or anything can enter in and cause havoc in the lives of the inhabitants. There is no order, no protection and no peace for the inhabitants. That was also life for us in addiction. However, when we called out to God in the midst of our confusion, He brought us to a place where we could start rebuilding a safe and secure new life in recovery.
O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. (Psalm 31:1-2 NLT)
In the Bible we read how Nehemiah and the residents of Jerusalem rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem which had been broken down. Nehemiah and the people had to have self-control and courage in order to do the work and finish the job. There were cynics who sneered at them saying the wall could never be rebuilt. These skeptics also harshly criticized the work that was being done. In order to keep building, the people had to carry defensive weapons of warfare due to the intimidation and threats from the enemy. Through it all Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem persevered and the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt according to the plan, and in an amazingly short period of time.
So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. (Nehemiah 6:15-16 NLT)
When we follow God, He will watch over and protect us as we rebuild our lives. There will be some who think that we can never achieve sobriety and self-control. However, if we persevere, and follow God’s good, pleasing and perfect plan for our lives, we will succeed in the face of any adversity, just as Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem did.
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