Broken Walls

They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heavens. ~Nehemiah 1:3-4 (NIV)



When we moved to a rural area and built raised beds for our garden, we also surrounded the area with a fence to keep critters away from the fruits of our labor. A neighbor from across the road came by shortly after this and commented on the wisdom of putting up a fence since raccoons had demolished her tomato crop the summer before.



There is much application here for our spiritual lives. Walls were important to cities because they offered protection. No wonder Nehemiah was upset when he heard the news about Jerusalem. Gardens, cities, our lives, all need protection from outside sources of evil that threaten us on a regular basis. This calls for utmost caution and self-control.



Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks no self-control. ~Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)



We would be wise to tend to breaches in the wall as soon as we notice them--that disconnect from God in one area or another, a tiny compromise in what we allow in your life. Weeds and freezing water widen the gap. Satan, a wayward vine, watches for a gap and will rapidly take a mile instead of the inch you offer. One day you'll awaken to find that he has completely breached the wall, and you'll face major repairs.



We should take the same stance as Nehemiah when we recognize the broken walls in our lives--weeping, mourning, fasting, and praying to the God of heaven. He is the only One capable of helping us rebuild the walls.



Father God, help us realize the importance of searching for gaps in the walls of our temple, knowing that Your Spirit indwells us. Turn Your Holy Light upon our lives and reveal to us areas of compromise and sin. Grant us what we need to rebuild the walls so that we might be better vessels for Your use. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.