My mother lived 82 years. In her family, with its history of heart disease, that was a long life. But truthfully, in light of eternity, 82 years is a very brief period of time. All of us are mortal; we’re here, as they say, on borrowed time. Thus it’s wise for us to approach the time we’re given with a proper perspective, a perspective that includes God and, more importantly, makes Him the center of our lives. The “days of darkness” referenced here speaks of the length of time our physical bodies will spend in death. When considering eternity, we’ll be “dead” a lot longer than we’ll be “alive”! Knowing we won’t live on this earth forever ought to provide us with the motivation to use our days wisely. Yes, of course we’re to enjoy our lives rather than moping around in a spirit of gloom and doom, but our ultimate reality will be experienced in the next life. Life won’t last forever, so use the time wisely. Savor it! Live to make a difference. Live to point others to Him.
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As we’ve noted on previous days, Nehemiah became aware of the broken down state of Jerusalem and the despair of its inhabitants, and his heart was moved—he cared. His grief over the city and the Jewish people drove him to his knees. He pleaded with the great and terrible (awe-inspiring)…
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Step two: care
This report distressed and concerned Nehemiah on various levels. A city without walls was open to attack. This put the inhabitants in a constant state of vulnerability. But this wasn’t just any city—this was Jerusalem, the city where the Lord had chosen to make His name known! The disrepair sent…

