Delivered!

I arrived early.  I was the first appointment of the day, so there was little activity around me.  I sat at a bench  nearby, pick up my book, and started reading .  It was Nehemiah's prayer:  "O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in  revering your name.  Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man" Nehemiah 1:11.  I prayed this prayer right before my name was called, and I enter an office to be interviewed.  I was hired.     It was an exciting time in my life.  The job suited my newly acquired skills, and it was in a completely new field. The organization offered many opportunities for growth.  I was happy.  The Lord had granted me success.


Full of determination, and ready to prove myself, I accepted the challenge. It was the opportunity of a lifetime.  Looking back, I was ignorant of the Lord's divine agenda.  Now, I wish I would have prayed for clarity.  Maybe the Lord would have granted me a vision, a purpose like Nehemiah.  Nehemiah's agenda was simple.  He went back to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city.  His project was funded and approved by the King; Nehemiah 2:7-8.  He arrived and quickly gathered those who would help him.  He started rebuilding; Nehemiah 2:17-18.  Soon officials in the area, started mocking and ridiculing him.  They attack his character and motives; Nehemiah 2:19.  When they realized that this would not deter Nehemiah from continuing his work, they threaten to attack the city; Nehemiah 4:7-8.  So Nehemiah, posted guards, and every worker had weapons in hand ready to defend themselves from any trouble; Nehemiah 4:16-18.  Some of the people around him were loyal to the opposition, and reported constantly on his progress; Nehemiah 6:17-19.  Nehemiah's enemies favorite weapon was intimidation, and yet it did not deter him from completing the wall in 52 days; Nehemiah 6:15.


To this day, I am unable to provide specifics as to why I was place there.  Except to simply say; "It was the Lord's will".  The attacks came quickly, and the honeymoon period ended abruptly.  My character was the first target of the attack.  Then the mocking, and the ridiculing.  Since, I realized that I was in a battle, I picked up my weapon.  My weapon was prayer.  For my Lord was the only one that could keep me protected from such evil.  The attacks were underhanded, and came from every side.  Every day I stood wondering where the next battle would come from.  It showed itself quickly, and in the most inopportune moments.  There were those around me whose favorite weapon was intimidation.  Very few could be trusted. When there was a momentary gap in activity, I would pray for a quick, smooth deliverance.  No ruckus, no disturbance, no explanations;  Just deliverance.... 


That is exactly how the Lord did it.  No ruckus, no disturbance, no explanations... and I was delivered!!!!


Copyright 09/2010