Nehemiah 13:4-9

Nehemiah 13:4-9
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  To close out Nehemiah, we find that Nehemiah, who invested much of his life making reforms in Jerusalem, has left the city and returned to his former job.  In time, he goes back to Jerusalem, only to discover that many of the reforms he led have been undone, and much of life in Jerusalem has turned away from God.  Though many of the people pledged their faithfulness and devotion to God, in time that commitment faded, and they went back to life as usual.
  We all do this.  We get caught up in passionate moments and swear our devotion to God, only to discover that passion fades, and that in time we return to a steady state, and without habits and routines to guide us, we drift away from that dedication to the faithful life.
  This is why habits are so important.  They serve like the rumble strips on the side of the road--when we drift, they remind us of the greatness of God and the importance of our continued devotion and steadfastness. Our spiritual devotions keep us focused within a way of life, and they return our eyes and hearts to God when they drift toward other things.  If we rely upon ourselves and our own strength, we will stumble, but if we remind ourselves, over and over again, of the greatness of God, we allow God to lead us deeper into the faithful life, and we find that the faithful life is formed by small actions, day in and day our, when we make room to listen and look for what God is already doing in our lives.