Quick Take - Several years ago, “The Prayer of Jabez” was a very popular book.  It was about how we should pray that God would expand our borders.  That is wonderful, but once the borders have been expanded, we have to build into it.  Many people are sitting on vacant spiritual ground that the Lord has opened up to them and they do not have the courage to build it out.  Building and repairing is a scary thing to do.  It involves risk and exposure few people are comfortable with because we fear we might fail.  So many people sit in dilapidated and unusable places because they are afraid to build.  If God has called us to build something, then we must take courage and do it.

And he took courage and rebuilt all the wall that had been broken down and erected towers on it, and built another outside wall and strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in great number.  2 Chron 32:5 (NASB)

And remember – Jesus wins,
Tim

     Digging Deeper – Our verse from 2 Chronicles was written in a very difficult time for the nation of Israel.  The King of Assyria was preparing to take over Jerusalem.  Not only did they need to build and repair, but they we under siege with attack being very imminent.  The King of Assyria even sent representatives to Jerusalem to demoralize the people.  It was the worst time to try and get the people behind a building project.
     Hezekiah has made some hard decisions which were not popular with the people.  He had taken down all the idol alters and declared that the people would worship God alone.  The King of Assyria’s people said they were so great that no god has stood against them yet and neither would the God of Hezekiah. 
     Everything was working against Hezekiah and most people would have just surrendered.  At least they could have come out with their lives.  It was a time when most people would have believed their eyes and cut their losses.  Hezekiah, on the other hand, chose to believe his God.  He had the audacity to build when all the odds were against him.  He chose to strengthen and repair in direct contradiction to his circumstances.  This took a lot of courage in faith and leadership.
     As it turned out, the courage he took from God verified his faith and he never had to defend the city.  God intervened and wiped out the Assyrian Army.  It was awesome!  But it would have never happened if one man had not dared to take courage and build in the face of insurmountable odds.
     What are the odds facing you today?  What is your response?  If you are like most people, you could take the easy way out and surrender.  If you are a fool, you can try to fight against it in your own strength.  If you are like Hezekiah, you can take courage from God and build in the face of the impending storm.
     What do you need to build?  What territory has God placed before you that you are afraid to build on?  God has called all of us to build the kingdom and that means we are going to have to take courage from Him.  It will not be easy and everyone in this world will tell us we are crazy, but God is faithful.  Don’t build for the glory of the flesh; but if God has called you to build, then take courage and do it.
Blessings, and thanks for digging deeper with me!