No Christian ever plans on backsliding, that is, moving away from Christ. Yet it happens. The prophet Jeremiah even admitted, “Our backslidings are many” (Jeremiah 14:7). Sometimes, a city can be in shambles because the lives of its people are in shambles. Nehemiah left Jerusalem for a short time and returned to find the people had gone back to practicing their old ways. Let’s consider four mistakes they made and how to prevent them from happening to us.

I. Misplace Your Bible (vv. 1-3)

II. Misalign Your Companions (vv. 4-9)

III. Misarrange Your Priorities (vv. 10-22)

IV. Mismanage Your Family (vv. 23-24)

Talk with God: Prayerfully consider the people you turn to for encouragement and advice. Are you surrounding yourself with strong, healthy believers who will sharpen you (see Proverbs 27:17 ) and urge you to grow in your faith?

Talk with others: Ask a believing friend or mentor to hold you accountable to pray and spend time in the Word daily as you recommit to a habit or create a new one.

Talk with kids: How did Gideon test God’s words?