Have you ever told someone, “You should be more like Nehemiah!” Maybe you should start!

Nehemiah, a biblical hero with a knack for construction and leadership, provides us with some simple yet profound lessons on how to approach our lives with a bit more zeal and a lot less procrastination. Picture him: a cupbearer turned project manager, armed with nothing but a vision, a prayer, and perhaps a really strong cup of coffee. Here’s how we can channel our inner Nehemiah and infuse a little movement into our journey.

First off, Nehemiah had a clear vision — he saw the walls of Jerusalem in shambles and thought, “What if I just fixed that?” Instead of binge-watching another season of his favorite show, he decided to take action. We should take a page from his book and ask ourselves, “What’s my version of rebuilding a wall?”

Spoiler alert: It doesn’t have to be as monumental as Nehemiah’s. Maybe it starts with a project on your street, at your church, or in your community.

Now, let’s talk about leadership. Nehemiah rallied the people of Jerusalem like a charismatic team captain at a school pep rally. “Come on, folks! We’re building a wall, not just any wall — a wall that will stand the test of time!”

He knew how to delegate, too. If he could get all those people to work together without resorting to a bake sale, surely we can organize our friends or congregation for a weekend project.

Prayer was Nehemiah’s secret weapon. Whenever faced with a challenge, he didn’t just whip out a blueprint; he whipped out a prayer. Imagine him saying, “God, I need a miracle here — preferably one that doesn’t involve a single trip to the hardware store.”

We, too, can lighten our burdens by mixing in a little prayer into our daily projects.

Nehemiah faced opposition, and rather than throwing a tantrum, he stayed focused and resilient. Picture him dodging insults while holding a brick in one hand and a sword in the other, thinking, “I’m not just building a wall; I’m building my reputation!”

When we face adversity, let’s channel our inner Nehemiah and respond with a wink and a smile, knowing we’re just one step closer to the goals God has for our lives!

Lastly, Nehemiah was a champion for justice. He didn’t just sit around; he called out unfairness like a biblical superhero. “Hey, you can’t treat people like that!” he would say, cape flapping in the wind.

We should all aspire to stand up for what’s right — even if it means occasionally putting down the remote and stepping into the fray ourselves.

So maybe this week, provide someone a compliment of “You remind me of Nehemiah,” and watch them run for their Bibles to see if you are being nice.

Greg Armstrong is the youth/children’s pastor at Lakeside Christian Church in Shell Knob. He may be reached at lccskyouthmin@gmail.com.