Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS 

READ:  Isaiah 40:18-40

REFLECT: How does hope in the Lord provide renewed strength?

RESPOND: List 3 events. or situations, that have energized you in the last week.  What do these events have in common?

*Share your thoughts on Comments.

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; ³¹ but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS 

READ:  2 Timothy 3:16-17

REFLECT: How is the Word of God profitable for your daily life?

RESPOND: Think back on the last 24 hours.  Identify one way God has provided "training ground" for your faith.  Then, locate a verse in the Bible that provides the prescription for the opportunity.

*Share your verse on Comments.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS 

READ:  Nehemiah 8

REFLECT: After being moved to weeping, how were the people instructed to demonstrate joy?

RESPOND: Locate a verse in Scripture that motivates you to react the same way the people were instructed - eat, drink, and share.

*Share your verse on Comments.

“'This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.' For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, 'Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'”

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS 

READ:  Nehemiah 8

REFLECT: How do the people react to the public reading of Scripture?

RESPOND:  Count how many copies of the Bible are in your house.  Then, read the equivalent number of chapters from any book of the Bible of your choice.

*Share your experience on Comments.

"And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS 

READ:  2 Peter 1:16-21

REFLECT:  How does Peter describe the Word of God?

RESPOND:  Set a timer for 5 minutes.  Write as many words as possible describing the Word of God.  Then, use some of these terms in prayer as you thank God for allowing you to experience this power.

*Share your thoughts on Comments.

"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS 

READ:  Nehemiah 6

REFLECT:  Why did the surrounding nations perceive the wall was built "with the help of God?"

RESPOND:  Examine your prayers today. Are you praying for things that could only be perceived as being accomplished through supernatural means?

"...and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." 1 Cor 2:4-5

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ: Nehemiah 6

REFLECT: How was Nehemiah able to identify the deceit of Shemaiah's plan?

RESPOND: Expose the identity of your "distractors" from yesterday's WOD. Name a principle from God's Word that would be violated if you gave in to the temptation.

"...But now, O God, strengthen my hands."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

Read: Nehemiah 6

Reflect: What were the intentions of the meeting request from Nehemiah's enemies?

Respond: List 3 ways the enemy has attempted to distract you from the work God has placed in your heart.

And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ: 1 John 4

REFLECT:  How are we capable of genuine love?

RESPOND:  After meditating on this passage - Ask for strength to forgive someone specific who has been on your heart.

"We love because He first loved us."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ: Nehemiah 5

REFLECT: Why did Nehemiah refuse to charge the normal tax from the people?

RESPOND: Identify someone God has placed in your life who needs "relief."  Do your part.

*Share thoughts on Comments.

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ:  Nehemiah 5

REFLECT: What was the root cause of the dispute found in this chapter?

RESPOND:  Identify one way you have been tempted with greed this past week.

*Share your thoughts on Comments.

"What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?"

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ:  Nehemiah 4

REFLECT: How did the enemy attempt to intimidate Nehemiah and the people building the wall?

RESPOND:  How have you been prone to intimidation in the past.  List two ways you have been paralyzed by intimidation.

*Share your thoughts on Comments.

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ:  Nehemiah 4

REFLECT: How did Nehemiah react when threatened by the opposition?  What was his first action?

RESPOND:  Consider the vision you are working toward presently.  Identify 3 ways God has already demonstrated He is in control and will handle the details you cannot.

*Share your thoughts on Comments.

“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ:  Nehemiah 3:1 - 4:6

REFLECT: What motivated these individuals to continue building - even in the eyes of opposition?

RESPOND:  Give 3 reasons why you know God wants you to continue building your vision.

*Share your thoughts on Comments.

"So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ:  Nehemiah 3

REFLECT: Who refused to build the wall?

RESPOND:   Identify a job, or activity, you feel is "beneath" you.  Find a way to thank an individual who does this job regularly.

*Share your thoughts on Comments.

"And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ:  Nehemiah 3

REFLECT: Who built the wall?  What level of experience did they have in building walls?

RESPOND:   Name one example of someone in history who proved lack of experience was NOT a hindrance to success.

*Share your thoughts on Comments.

"Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ:  Nehemiah 2 (one more time)

REFLECT: What motivated the others to join in Nehemiah's mission to rebuild the wall?

RESPOND:  Locate 3 promises of God that extinguish the 3 weaknesses you listed on the last workout.  Pray for God to "strengthen your hands for the good work."

*Share your thoughts on Comments.

"And they said, 'Let us rise up and build.' So they strengthened their hands for the good work."

Faith WOD

TODAY'S STEPS

READ:  Nehemiah 2

REFLECT: Why did Nehemiah inspect the walls before sharing his vision with the people of Jerusalem?

RESPOND:  Examine yourself.  List 3 weaknesses in your character.

*Share your thoughts on Comments.

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5)