Words of Hope Daily Devotional
The Words of Hope Devotional is a non-profit, donor-supported publication whose goal is to encourage readers to grow in faith through the practice of daily Bible reading and prayer. The devotional is available in your email, in print, and as an app in Google Play and the App Store.
A Persistent Enemy
Read: Nehemiah 4:1-16
Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome. (v. 14)
Finally, some progress! The Jews in Jerusalem now had an effective leader in Nehemiah and a workforce of volunteers. They had a plan, and the walls were beginning to go up. But, almost as if on cue, their enemies showed up to cause problems. Would the work grind to a halt, as it had decades before, or would they hold strong to repair the ruins?
We see the challenges unfold for Nehemiah. The enemies of Jerusalem, led by Sanballat and Tobiah the Ammonite, began by insulting “these feeble Jews” (v. 2) and their pitiful attempts to rebuild the wall. Nehemiah responded by praying (vv. 4-5). Once the wall was halfway finished, their enemies turned to threats and plotted to attack the city and cause confusion. Nehemiah and the people prayed even more. When the people themselves became discouraged by the work, and the rumors of attack continued, Nehemiah refused to be intimidated. He armed the workers and stationed them along the wall (vv. 9, 13). Then he encouraged the people, reminding them that they didn’t need to be afraid because their God was “great and awesome” (v. 14)!
Nehemiah was resolute. He refused to be discouraged. He didn’t fix his eyes on the enemy or on the ruins around him. He fixed his eyes on God, despite the enemy’s persistence. Meanwhile, the work continued, the walls kept going up—and Sanballat and Tobiah became more desperate. —Laura N. Sweet
As you pray, fix your eyes on Jesus, and not on your circumstances.
About the Author
Laura N. Sweet is a wife, mother, grandmother, and former Christian schoolteacher from Midland, Michigan. She writes devotional material for both adults and children, and her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications.
Just Worship
Read: Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! (vv. 1-2) One of the main reasons that we were created is to worship the Lord
The Well-used Word
Read: Psalm 119:9-16 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. (vv. 15-16) If you look at my Bible, you will see that
Who, Me? Be Used by God?
Read: Exodus 4:1-17 Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? (v. 11) Moses couldn’t believe that God wanted to use
The Narrow Way
Read: Matthew 7:13-23 Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard
The Gift of Oxygen
Read: Acts 17:22-31 . . . nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (v. 25) No crying filled the delivery room when I
No More Darkness
Read: Revelation 21:21-27 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the
God’s Marvelous Light
Read: 1 Peter 2:1-10 You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (v. 9 NIV) Do
Inheritance in Light
Read: Colossians 1:9-14 Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (v. 12) There is a lot to be learned about inheritance from the Bible. The ESV translation uses
Darkness in Light’s Disguise
Read: 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. (vv. 14-15) These days, I can see how as an “intelligent” youth, I