Welcome to The Turnaround’s 52 Days of Prayer!

Introduction

This is day 14 of our 52 days of prayer. We’ve been meditating on the idea of trusting God’s power to work through humble vessels. God works through the “weak” and instructs those with “childlike” faith. He resists the proud and gives grace to the lowly. Today we consider the outcome of setting aside our personal agendas, egos, and territory for the sake of something greater. 

Insight

If you read all of chapter 3, you see the phrase “next to” them or “after” them 31 times. It’s a compelling story of priests, Levites, perfumers, rulers, sons, daughters, and neighbors working together to rebuild the wall and gates around the city. 

This is a beautiful example of teamwork and cooperation. Different families and groups were called to work on their particular section of the wall, shoulder to shoulder with neighbors and friends working on other sections. They were unified around a common purpose, and they finished the task in record time. 

Proverbs 27:10 says that in the day of your calamity, better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. How well do you know your neighbors? How well do you know other congregations and church leaders in your community? How strong are your ties, and how open are your lines of communications? How can you work together to rebuild the spiritual foundations of your community?

Let’s rebuild together by setting aside our personal agendas, egos, territory, and “little kingdoms” to serve and advance God’s Kingdom. Let’s cooperate with fellow laborers instead of contending with one another. Let’s commit ourselves to what God calls us to do, shoulder to shoulder with other believers, and pray for God’s blessing on our work. 

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58, ESV). 

Turnaround Questions

• • Do you know what “section of the wall” God is calling you to build or rebuild? 
  • How are you applying your God-given strengths, abilities, interests, passions, and resources to advance God’s kingdom? 
  • Who is working next to you? How can you partner to advance a common cause? 

• • Are you willing to work in the background, serve without credit, or stoop to some lowly task if that’s what God calls you to do? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is no small task to be “salt and light” in today’s world. You have given us a GREAT commission to disciple the nations, starting with our own city, state, and nation. We ask for your blessing on the good works you have prepared for us to do. We pray for a spirit of unity, cooperation, and grace as we work with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to honor one another as uniquely gifted members of Christ’s body. Help us to not care who gets the credit since all honor and praise and glory belongs to you.