7 February, 2011 12:02

Ordinary becomes Extraordinary in the Hand of God “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God”. Nehemiah 6:15:16 Except for Jesus, God has always used ordinary people to do extraordinary things; and Nehemiah is a great paradigm for us. God used him, an ordinary person, to do something extraordinary. God often shapes people with personality characteristics, experiences and training that prepare them for His purpose, and usually they have no idea what God has in store for them. God prepared and positioned Nehemiah to accomplish one of the bible’s seemingly “impossible” tasks. Nehemiah was not a deacon, not an elder nor was he a pastor. He was simply a layperson! In other words, he was just a regular, ordinary person with a heart for God and His people. And God used his willing heart, coupled with a prayer warrior’s spirit, to produce through Nehemiah one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of Jerusalem. When we look at Nehemiah’s accomplishments and attributes, we notice that his first response to every situation, issue and problem was always prayer. Although he did not have a specific title, he used his spiritual gift of administration, and his political influences to encourage, motivate, and organize the people. Finally Nehemiah displayed character, persistence and a prayerful spirit that endeared him to God and others. Nehemiah shows us that we don’t need titles, positions or extra letters behind our names to be effective for the Lord. We don’t need breathtaking charisma, illustrious charm or a flawless vocabulary to communicate His purposes to a dying world. What is required is a willing heart, a prayerful spirit and a willingness to obey God. With these characteristics, ANY born-again believer can accomplish greatness in the sight of God. New Normal: Allow God to take what others think is just ordinary and make it extraordinary. In every situation, pray for God’s direction and guidance; be organized with a plan and purpose. Learn to look beyond yourself to do the work of the Lord. Expect opposition…but always be a person with great trust and integrity; and watch what the Lord will do for you…and through you!