Praise the Lord & Sharpen your Sword !!

I used this phrase recently at a bible study and was asked if this was a phrase that was mine or did I get it somewhere else. I guess I own this one, but with reference to an earlier period in our history. Later I began to think more on this phrase, where I coined it, how it became a phrase of mine, and how it pertains to my life today
We were doing a study of the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament, in Chapter 4, while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem there was a threat of attack and the walls had not yet been completed.

(vs. 7-9) But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.8They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.9But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
In verse 9, the key to me is that while we don’t know what God’s will is, we must prepare and have faith regardless of the outcome we desire. We continue with verse 13.
13Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.14After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
15When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.16From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah17who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other,18and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
19Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.20Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”21So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.22At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and workmen by day.”23Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.

Now, back to the phrase.
When I was a kid we used to play army a lot, we were all heroes and maybe the root of this phrase came from that time. I’d heard it came from an old soldier or saying in WWI or WWII. “Praise the Lord and pass the Ammunition”. So naturally this phrase got adapted in this study. So, how will this work for present day? Let’s look at the New Testament.

In the book of Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul writes of wearing “the Armor of God”

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

In verse 17 we have the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. So for me, and I believe for all followers of Christ, the daily lesson here is simply this:

Give praise to God for all that He is and all that He has done, give thanks for all that He has provided from the sunrise to sunrise and everything in between. Sharpen your sword, study, know and live by His word. Finally, verses 19-20
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

“Praise the Lord and Sharpen your Sword”