One Brick At A Time
Scripture
“listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’”
— Nehemiah 1:6, 8–9 (NLT)
Devotion
Pastor Darren described a simple, powerful prayer he’s been praying:
“God, put me together one brick at a time. One step at a time. As fast as You choose to, just do what You do.”
Nehemiah didn’t just weep; he confessed. He agreed with God about the sin and compromise that led to Jerusalem’s destruction. Then he clung to God’s promise: “But if you return to Me…” That word “return” is key. It’s not about trying to be perfect overnight. It’s about turning back to God and letting Him begin rebuilding – one brick at a time.
Many of us look at our lives and see rubble: bad habits, past failures, spiritual laziness, addiction, anger, or compromise. It can feel like 150 years of ruins – too far gone to fix. But God never asked you to rebuild yourself overnight. He asks you to return to Him and keep His word, step by step.
Fasting and intentional devotion are not religious stunts; they are ways of saying, “Lord, here I am—start the rebuilding.” Every time you choose prayer over scrolling, Scripture over entertainment, obedience over comfort, you are handing God another brick. And He is the Master Builder.
Reflection
Prayer
Father, I confess the broken places—the rubble I see in my life and in my heart. I admit that my own choices and compromises have contributed to this. But I also hear Your promise: “If you return to Me.” Today I return. Rebuild me one brick at a time, one step at a time, as fast as You choose. I yield to Your process. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’”
— Nehemiah 1:6, 8–9 (NLT)
Devotion
Pastor Darren described a simple, powerful prayer he’s been praying:
“God, put me together one brick at a time. One step at a time. As fast as You choose to, just do what You do.”
Nehemiah didn’t just weep; he confessed. He agreed with God about the sin and compromise that led to Jerusalem’s destruction. Then he clung to God’s promise: “But if you return to Me…” That word “return” is key. It’s not about trying to be perfect overnight. It’s about turning back to God and letting Him begin rebuilding – one brick at a time.
Many of us look at our lives and see rubble: bad habits, past failures, spiritual laziness, addiction, anger, or compromise. It can feel like 150 years of ruins – too far gone to fix. But God never asked you to rebuild yourself overnight. He asks you to return to Him and keep His word, step by step.
Fasting and intentional devotion are not religious stunts; they are ways of saying, “Lord, here I am—start the rebuilding.” Every time you choose prayer over scrolling, Scripture over entertainment, obedience over comfort, you are handing God another brick. And He is the Master Builder.
Reflection
- Where do you see “rubble” in your life—areas that feel too broken or long‑standing to change?
- What is one brick God is asking you to hand Him today (a habit to surrender, a sin to confess, a step of obedience to take)?
- How can you stay focused on the “one step at a time” instead of being overwhelmed by how far you think you have to go?
Prayer
Father, I confess the broken places—the rubble I see in my life and in my heart. I admit that my own choices and compromises have contributed to this. But I also hear Your promise: “If you return to Me.” Today I return. Rebuild me one brick at a time, one step at a time, as fast as You choose. I yield to Your process. In Jesus’ name, amen.