Watch & Pray

[Neh. 4:14] And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
1. He looked up, engaged G-d for him, and put himself and his cause under the divine protection. We made our prayer unto our G-d. That was the way of this good man, and should be our way; all his cares, all his grief’s, all his fears, he spread before G-d, and thereby made himself easy. This was the first thing he did; before he used any means, he made his prayer to G-d, for with him we must always begin.
2. He looked about him. Having prayed, he set a watch against them. The instructions Y’Shua has given us in our spiritual warfare agree with this example, Matthew 26:41. Watch and pray. If we think to secure ourselves by prayer only, without watchfulness, we are slothful and tempt G-d; if by watchfulness, without prayer, we are proud and slight G-d; and, either way, we forfeit his protection.
He endeavors to silence their fears. "Come," says he, "be not afraid of them, but behave yourselves valiantly, considering,
1. Whom you fight under. You cannot have a better captain: Remember the L-rd, who is great and terrible; you think your enemies great and terrible, but what are they in comparison with G-d, especially in opposition to him? He is great above them to control them, and will be terrible to them when he comes to reckon with them." Those that with an eye of faith see the church's G-d to be great and terrible will see the Believer's enemies to be mean and despicable. The reigning fear of G-d is the best antidote against the ensnaring fear of man. He that is afraid of a man that shall die forgets the L-rd his Maker, Isaiah 51:12, 13.
2. "Whom you fight for. You cannot have a better cause; you fight for your brethren (Psalms 122:8), your sons, and your daughters. All that is dear to you in their world lies at stake; therefore behave yourselves valiantly."
G-d with us is so substitute for being watchful and strong in the face of danger. In this time of crisis, Nehemiah reminds the Jews that their G-d is great and terrible – one who will fight for us. They are words that inspire courage to fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.
You think your enemies are great and terrible. But what are they in comparison of G-d? Especially in opposition to Him?
Believers must do their work, with so much the more cheerfulness because they can see plainly that G-d owned it and owned them in the doing of it.
G-d's care of our safety should engage and encourage us to go on with vigor in our duty. As soon as ever a danger is over let us return to our work, and trust G-d another time.
The workmen may labored with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other; and as, in so large a circuit, they were far removed from each other. The word of G-d is the sword of the Spirit, which we ought to have always at hand and never to seek, both in our labors and in our conflicts as Believers.
Believers would be at all times ready for His service which takes precedence over anything else.
Good work is likely to go on successfully when those that labor in it make a business and discipline to do it.