Don't Sweat the Details

As I was reading and studying the Book of Nehemiah, I noticed something very enlightening in the fourth chapter. Nehemiah had set the people to rebuild the walls of Jeresalem. Each family was assigned the portion of the wall that was closest to thier homes. Here in chapter 4, the enemies of the Jews began to ridicule and threaten in order to cause them to stop thier work. But Nehemiah led the people to pray and to watch and to arm themselves. The people worked with one eye to the task and the other on the horizon searching for the enemy. With one hand they held a trowel and with the other a sword. As I read of this remarkable feat by the Jews to rebuild the wall it occured to me that this is exactly what we as Christians are to do. We are to lift up our prayers and petitions to the Lord, then we are to put feet to our prayers. We are to take actions to involve ourselves by putting on the whole armor of God to protect and defend the gospel and to watch for the coming of that great day when the Lord returns to receive us unto Himself.

Now the interesting thing that I see in all of this is that five times Nehemiah uses the word "so" (verses 6, 10, 18, 21, and 23). This tiny word is an indicator for us to "not sweat the small stuff". In that word "so" we can only read between the lines, for therein lies the details of all that took place while they prayed, and watched, and armed themselves. It is in the details that we get caught up in our circumstances and I think Nehemiah is saying "don't sweat the small stuff" for there is a bigger picture for us to see. Don't let the details be so cumbersome that you forget the vision God has given. It is in the details that the old Devil will set a snare for us.

"So", consider the details but don't let them cause you to fall or fail in the task that God has given. Pray, and watch, and arm yourself for the battle at hand.

Here It Begins

Just a note to say that blogging is a new experience for me. I hope to be able to provide some interesting thoughts for you to think about. Hence the title “Thoughts To Keep You Thinking“. It will be just a stroll through the things that I am experiencing at the time … Reading, thinking, feeling, or just plain pondering. Check back at a later date for updated posts to the site. Feel free to comment and give constructive criticism. I will read and listen, but don’t count on seeing me jump to the tune if I disagree. God bless and good reading.
Mike