I have a third grader that comes every morning across the street where I do my crossing guard. She has her backpack on. She is riding her bike and usually has her meds (I think she has vitamins) in one hand, her breakfast in another hand, all the while steering her bike and trying to get across the street. And she usually does a good job of conversing while doing this masterful trick of multi-tasking. She is amazing. I keep telling her she needs to grow a couple more hands and arms.
I was reading Nehemiah chapter 4 this morning and I was reminded of this multi-tasking. Nehemiah was this lowly cup-bearer for the king and accepted God’s call to go and rebuild the destroyed city of Jerusalem. In chapter 4 the rebuilding meets resistance by the enemy and so the people respond. Prepare for battle, counter the attackers with prayer to our God and set a round-the-clock guard against the enemy. The common laborers held a tool in one hand and a spear in the other. Each builder had a sword strapped on to his side as he worked. Even getting water, they kept a spear in hand.
As we face undaunting tasks we might need to have a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other, let us not forget to prepare every battle with counter attacking by being in prayer to our God. Battles will be victorious if we keep our face toward God.
Nehemiah did just that. The city was rebuilt in a record 52 days. And this cup-bearer was not only a leader in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, but he was also the leader in a great spiritual awakening in the land. The missions that seem impossible are always possible when we begin our counter attacks with prayer to our God and willing to put a tool in one hand and a weapon in the other.
Multi-tasking is done well by a good many people, but it is even more successful when it includes God.
