When the wall around his city was destroyed, Nehemiah was heartbroken, but self-pity was

not an option. Instead, while standing knee high in the rubble, God began to stir his

heart. Nehemiah sense that God was calling on him to tackle the impossible, rebuilding

the wall around Jerusalem. This true story inspired Chuck Swindall to deliver a series on leadership.

He called it, Hand Me Another Brick. And today, on Insight for Living, he's teaching

from Nehemiah 2. Chuck picks up the story with an exchange between Nehemiah and the King.

The King said to me, How long will your journey be? And when will your return? The last part of

verse 6 says, I gave him a definite time. Ah, that's great. I weary of people that call it faith.

When they can't tell you their plan. Have you seen an individual who said, No, we're not going to

think through this. Let's just go by faith. Let's just go on their own. You know, God

will lead us. And the calculating businessman says, Mm-hmm. Yeah, you'll be back needing more

before you're halfway there. What is your plan? Oh, I didn't have a plan. I haven't thought it

through. You know, God's led me. I gave him a definite time. You know that God loves and honors

order and organization. Can you imagine what he had thought through on the spot to say, you want

to know how long it'll take me? It'll take me this long. One, two, three, four, five. Because

you see Nehemiah had a plan. He had been doing more than praying for four months. He had been

planning. There's a proverb that says a man's heart devises his way, plans his way, but the Lord

directs his steps. Going out by faith doesn't mean you go out in a disordered or haphazard fashion.

You think through it. Listen to Jesus' words. Don't begin to build until you count the cost. For who

would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates? And then checking to see if

he has enough money to pay the bills? Jesus said this. Christ said this. Before you build, check.

Check out your plan. Otherwise, he might complete only the foundation before he runs out of funds.

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