I said to them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot, and let the doors be shut and securely fastened while the guards are on duty. Station the citizens of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their homes.” Nehemiah 7:3 HCSB
I am a part of the Watchman Prayer Ministry at our church. We have over 120 people who have committed to pray for one hour each week for our church, our ministers, our ministries, and our community. Each “Watchman” takes his turn on the wall to “watch and pray”. The person who prays the hour before me calls me to remind me when it is my time to be on the wall to pray. At the end of my watch, I call the person who prays the following hour to remind him to watch and pray. It is important for each of us to do our part and to hold fellow watchmen accountable to complete their time of prayer.
Nehemiah assigned different families to stand watch on the section of the wall near their homes. They were to watch for the enemy and alert others of any impending danger. Each family was to do their part in protecting the city of Jerusalem. It would have been easy to relax and think that since the wall was complete, the job was finished and they were safe, but the work of protecting the people and the city had just begun. God had provided what they needed and had helped them complete the wall, but now it was time to take care of what God had entrusted to them.
Challenge: Stand watch and pray for your church, its ministries, your minister, and your community. Pray that God will use you to help protect the work of the church. Consider starting a Watchman Prayer Ministry at your church if you do not already have one.