Projects and Distractions: Successful Lessons from Nehemiah

Do you struggle with distractions? Do you wonder how to better deal with distractions while working on projects and pursuing your dreams? We can learn a lot of valuable lessons about overcoming distractions from Nehemiah – an example of single-mindedness, dedication, and focus.

Recently, I have started several projects in pursuit of the vision God has implanted in me. These are projects venturing into a new territory requiring my full concentration, discipline, and focus.

In the beginning, I felt overwhelmed and was praying for wisdom, power, and success asking the Lord to give me a red line, a guiding principle to get me through. So many things demand my attention daily. I have found enormous help and powerful strategies in overcoming distractions in the Book of Nehemiah.

There Will Be Opposition

Nehemiah was a great leader and man of faith who initiated and supervised the rebuilding of Jerusalem during the 2^nd Temple period. And most of all he was a person knowing how to deflect the attempts of the enemy to distract him and sabotage his work.

The first truth to acknowledge is that there will always be opposition to our ministries, projects and to our growth (Nehemiah 4, Nehemiah 6). It is unavoidable. This opposition can take different forms – ridicule, reproach, intimidation, criticism, distraction, attempts to discredit us, lessening the effect of our testimony, and work. All these forms have one overall aim – to make us stop and not accomplish the work we have been given, to distract us and divert us from what is important.

Our Work Is Important

It will help us a lot in overcoming distractions if we acknowledge how extensive and great the work God has assigned to us, is. Listen to Nehemiah’s response to the attempts of his enemies to distract him and let him leave his work:

“I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?“ (Nehemiah 6:3)

Our work in serving God in the manifold ways He has assigned to us and being His co-workers and partners in advancing His kingdom on earth is a great project and top priority. In every season in life, we have specific assignments and a part in the awesome business of restoration and re-building of human hearts and relationships. We are more prone to distraction when we make other activities more important than this.

Our Work Is Extensive

The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us! (Nehemiah 4:19)

Our work, our ministries are not a single man show. We need each other to succeed. We need people in our lives to support us with their knowledge, mentoring, counsel, encouragement, and prayer.  Every one of us has been assigned a small portion of the wall to rebuild, but there are people working beside us, behind us, and in front of us. Let’s ask for support and let be ready to give support when we hear somebody calling for help.

How to Finish Successfully by Overcoming Distractions

Nehemiah is a great example showing us how to carry out the big projects God gives us without distractions. Here are his principles and procedures to carry out successfully the assigned work:

• Working with all our hearts. (Nehemiah 4:6) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.“ (Colossians 3:23-24)

• Working and being alert in prayer, dressed in the full armor of God. “And each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. “ (Nehemiah 4:18) Nehemiah met every attempt of the enemy to distract him from his work praying to God. His connection to God was his strongest weapon.

• Trusting that God is fighting for us and making us succeed. “The God of heaven will give us success. We, his servants will start rebuilding…” (Nehemiah 2:20)

• Trusting that God is thwarting the plans of the enemies. “When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work. “ (Nehemiah 4:15)

• Ignoring the enemy’s attempts to distract us. “Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. “ (Nehemiah 6:4) The enemy is persistent and God is training us also to be persistent in staying the course and keeping the focus.

The Work Is Completed

The greatest encouragement from the Book of Nehemiah is that he started, and he was able to finish the great project of rebuilding Jerusalem in 52 days! (Nehemiah 6:15) God was the initiator of the project and his greatest helper and supporter. He blessed his efforts and dedication bringing his labor to completion.

Let’s follow this inspiring example and run the race, each of us in his lane, overcoming distractions and everything that hinders on the way.

Don’t forget to download a printable of selected Bible verses to help you in overcoming distractions.

Your Turn

How are you overcoming distractions? What is the most helpful lesson from Nehemiah for you?

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This post was first published on On The Way Blog