Next Steps

Sermon Devotions

Inspiring weekly devotions that motivate us to remain steadfast in our faith in Jesus Christ!

Week of September 14th

Devotion 1: Trust the Lord

Scripture:
Nehemiah 4:9–10; Ephesians 3:20–21

Reflection:
As the wall of Jerusalem rose, so did the rubble and resistance. The people’s strength was failing, the debris looked endless, and their enemies mocked and threatened them. Yet Nehemiah led with prayer: “But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard day and night” (Nehemiah 4:9). Prayer was their first response and their constant defense.

Discouragement is a powerful weapon of the enemy. It whispers, “This is too hard; you’ll never finish.” But prayer draws our eyes off the rubbish and onto the God who “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Every time we pray, we invite His strength into our weakness and His victory into our struggle. The wall was rebuilt not because the people were strong, but because God answered their persevering prayers.

Prayer:
When the weight of your family burdens feel like a heap of rubble, lift your eyes to the Lord. Ask Him to strengthen your weary heart and silence the lies that say it can’t be done. Pray that the Holy Spirit would teach you to pray first, pray often, and keep praying until His power is revealed.

Action:

  • Today, set aside a focused time of prayer for your family’s areas of discouragement — marriage tensions, parenting challenges, financial strain, or spiritual dryness.
  • Write each need in a journal. Beside every need, note a specific Scripture promise (e.g., Galatians 6:9 for perseverance).
  • Commit to revisit these requests daily this week, thanking God in advance for the strength and answers He will provide.

Devotion 2: Remember the Lord

Scripture:
Nehemiah 4:13–14; Ephesians 6:10–13

Reflection:
When fear spread through Jerusalem, Nehemiah gathered families with swords, spears, and bows, urging them, “Do not be afraid…remember the Lord who is great and awesome” (Nehemiah 4:14). Remembering God’s greatness fuels courage, but Nehemiah also acted wisely: he stationed people at the weakest spots of the wall and armed them for attack.

Our families have “weak spots” too—places where the enemy’s lies can seep in. It might be inconsistent devotion, unguarded screens, unchecked anger, or hidden sin. Identifying and strengthening those areas is part of faithful discipleship. Paul reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness. That means our preparation must be spiritual: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God (Ephesians 6).

Remembering the Lord is not passive nostalgia; it is active readiness. We fix our eyes on His power and fortify the vulnerable places, standing firm with His armor.

Prayer:
Thank our Great and Awesome Lord for being your Defender. Ask Him to show you where your heart and home are unguarded. Pray that He would strengthen each weak point with His truth. Ask that He would help you and your family stand firm, clothed in the armor of God, against every scheme of the enemy.

Action:

  1. Identify a Weak Point: Ask God to reveal one area where your family is spiritually exposed (media habits, prayerlessness, unresolved conflict, etc.).
  2. Reinforce It: Decide on one practical safeguard or spiritual discipline—such as setting device limits, adding a nightly family prayer, or seeking accountability.
  3. Gear Up Daily: Each morning this week, read Ephesians 6:10–18 and pray on the armor of God piece by piece, asking Him to clothe you and your household for the day’s battles.

Devotion 3: Honor the Lord

Scripture
Nehemiah 4:15–17; Galatians 6:9

Reflection
When the enemy’s plot was exposed, Nehemiah’s people “returned to the wall, each one to his work” (Nehemiah 4:15). Half held weapons while the rest kept building — one hand on the trowel, the other on the sword. Their steadfast labor honored the Lord and thwarted their enemies.

Serving God isn’t a one-time effort; it’s a steady, resilient march forward. Discouragement, fatigue, and opposition will whisper, “Stop. It’s not worth it.” But the Lord delights in perseverance. As one poet declared: “I want to let go, but I won’t let go.” Persistent service is an act of worship — an open declaration that God’s mission matters more than our comfort. Whether it’s your marriage, your ministry, or your quiet commitment to daily prayer, refusing to quit is a way of saying, “Lord, You are worthy.”

Prayer
Ask our Faithful God to give you the heart to keep working when you are tired, the courage to keep standing when you are opposed, and the joy to keep serving when results seem slow. Pray that every small act of perseverance you display brings Him glory.

Action

  1. Name the Work: Identify one specific task or calling where you’ve been tempted to give up — reading through the Bible, mentoring a child, serving in church, repairing a relationship.
  2. Plan the Next Step: Write down a single concrete action you can take this week (schedule the next reading, send the first text, volunteer for the next service opportunity).
  3. Pray as You Work: Like the builders with a weapon in one hand, invite God’s presence into each effort, asking Him to protect and strengthen you as you labor.

Devotion 4: Fight for Your Family

Scripture:
Nehemiah 4:14b; 2 Corinthians 10:3–5

Reflection:
The call is clear: “Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” This fight isn’t against people but against spiritual darkness. We stand firm through prayer, truth, and love, not hostility.

Prayer:
Ask the Lord Jesus to arm you with His Word and His peace. Pray that He would help your family battle not with anger but with faith, hope, and sacrificial love.

Action:
Write down one way you will actively bless or encourage each family member today — whether through a kind word, an act of service, or a moment of shared Scripture.

Click the button to check out our previous sermons.

Sermon Archive