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August – September 2026: The Book of Nehemiah
On Tuesday 18th August we begin a brand new series of Daily Inspirations – in the Book of Nehemiah. It’s a riveting tale of someone being called by God to do something amazing – and then doing it! Nehemiah is a wonderful character, full of faith, wisdom and practical common sense. Let’s journey with him over the next three weeks or so, and be inspired by his example.
- Day 18, Saturday 12th September – Nehemiah 9:38-10:39 ‘The power of God’s Word (4) – Commitment’
‘In view of all this…’ And so, we get to the heart of the prayer. After a long and detailed confession of the people’s rebellious ways, their repentance is manifested in a ‘binding agreement’, witnessed by their spiritual leaders (10:1-27). True conviction and confession always ends in commitment.
Indeed, the word repentance, which we often equate to ‘saying sorry’, really means ‘change your life’. For the people of Nehemiah’s day, this was reflected in a series of very practical commitments relating to marriage (v30), Sabbath (v31), resourcing their worshipping life properly (vv32-34), and generosity (vv35-39). All core components of the Law, which were often neglected but which were integral to their distinctiveness (i.e. holiness) as the chosen people of the one true God, Yahweh.
Although it is rare for us to make detailed practical commitments in our confession prayers, we do reflect those intentions in a general sense in many of our standard prayers:
‘Grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your name.’
‘That we may act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you, our God.’
Or, to return to the prayer we quoted a few days ago: ‘Grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name.’
As close our week, and this shorter reflection, take a few minutes to reflect on what repentance looks like for you today. Maybe it’s not a case of making specific commitments; or maybe there might be value in doing so – as long as we hold fast to the Lord’s grace, and live in freedom rather than condemnation.
What we do understand at a much deeper level than those praying this prayer more than 2,000 years ago, is that this kind of transformation can only be achieved by the Holy Spirit working in us. So, as we choose to serve the Lord today, pray for a fresh infilling of grace, poured out by the Holy Spirit, to live out your commitments. And in all things may we abide in Him, bearing much fruit, to the glory of His name. Amen.
- Day 14, Monday 7th September – Nehemiah 7:73-8:8 ‘The power of God’s Word (1) – Clarity’Read more...
What does a society need to thrive? It’s a question we ask ourselves a lot nowadays. Despite rapid advances in technology, medicine and global infrastructure, many cultures seem stuck in a slow but steady downward spiral. It’s a question which also lies at the heart of Nehemiah’s great work. As we have observed, this was always about more than a wall. ...
- Saturday 5th September – Psalm 17 ‘The Apple’Read more...
‘Jesus loves you…. but I’m his favourite.’
I remember a Christian leader sharing in a talk that he would love to wear a T-shirt like that, with ‘Jesus loves you’ on the front, and ‘but I’m his favourite’ on the back! Whatever you think of that, from either a sartorial or an evangelistic point of view, the point ...
- Friday 4th September – Psalm 16 ‘The Portion’Read more...
We take another brief break from Nehemiah to enjoy a couple of Psalms (today and tomorrow):
‘Just a small portion for me.’ These are words I utter quite often at our family meals; I do love food, but I don’t have a particularly big appetite, so if there’s a pudding available, my desire to enjoy it is tempered ...
- Day 13, Thursday 3rd September – Nehemiah 7:4-73 ‘Each to their own town’Read more...
Before I was a minister, I was a market researcher. This was at a time when my kids were very young, and had no idea what sort of job their daddy had. So, when I came home from work and they asked me what I did, I said: ‘Counting. Daddy does counting for a living.’ Which was basically true, albeit I ...
- Day 12, Wednesday 2nd September – Nehemiah 6:15-7:3 ‘Completed! – and continuing…’Read more...
‘So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.’
What joy it must have been to write those words! Even better, to actually see the rebuilt wall; to walk around inside its perimeter, knowing that the city was secure; to celebrate with those who had put in so much hard work, had risked their lives and ...