Devotional Guide for Thursday, September 1

Nehemiah 4:1-21

Reflect
I have always enjoyed the book of Nehemiah and the leadership skills he embodies.

I can’t imagine what went through Nehemiah’s mind when he first saw what the walls around Jerusalem looked like. I can only imagine how big the job must have looked to him. Yet, despite how big the job was and with real threats to their lives and work they were doing; Nehemiah continued to believe in the project and who had called him to the job.

Nehemiah doesn’t give a good halftime speech to keep the people from getting discouraged. He just simply tells them, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…” (verse 14b).

I don’t know what you are facing today, but I want to encourage you to receive the encouragement Nehemiah offered the workers: remember the Lord, who is great and awesome. May you receive the encouragement and strength you need from the Lord today.

Pastor Terry

Pray for Lyndell Campbell-Requia and Paulo Requia – NAB Brazil
Lyndell has been serving as a missionary since 2003 and is currently the field director for NAB in Brazil. She continues to serve as a full-time professor and Coordinator of the Pastoral Formation program at the Rio Grande do Sul Baptist Theological Seminary. Her main teaching subjects are Leadership, Christian Education, Hermeneutics and Missions. She is also one of the faculty mentors for the Kairos Project. Paulo’s ministry, as a partner missionary through Hispanics for Christ, focuses on serving poor communities in many aspects. He also serves as pastor of Niteroi Baptist Church. Lyndell is in the process of applying for her Brazilian citizenship and Paulo is applying for Canadian residency status. They would be very grateful if you would pray for these applications.