Manna for Your Morning

The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king.”“They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.” — Nehemiah 6:5-6, 6:9 (NLT) The enemy will always try to hinder or stop the work of Yahweh. It is a good work Yahweh is doing in you and through you. As we yield to the Holy Spirit, He will equip us to fulfill the good plan and purpose God has for us. Despite the hardships and challenges you face, don’t let the enemy discourage you or distract you and cause you to drift away from what Yahweh has for you, nor from what He has called you to accomplish. I am sure of this very thing—that He who began a good work in you...

Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose ... — Ezra 4:4-6 (NKJV) When the people of Judah, returned from captivity to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, their adversaries came. First they acted like they wanted to help them, then they proceeded to continually discourage and harass them (for years). When we seek to fulfill the call of God in our lives, we can expect opposition, those who want to tear down what we are building. There will be those who come to frustrate the work of God, but greater is He who is in us and with us. Let us be relentless, persistent and determined as we carry out our God-given assignments. Keep building! Complete the work. Keep the faith.

Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. — Hebrews 10:23 (MSG) Never let go or give up on the promises God has spoken to you. God is faithful and we can  trust Him to keep His promises. What the LORD speaks, eventually comes to pass (maybe not on our timetable). After God delivered the Israelites from slavery and ushered them into the Promise Land, Joshua 21:44-45 says, the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. This is the same God we serve. They may have spent 40 years in the wilderness, but through it all, God provided and His people prevailed. The enemy likes to use adverse circumstances to discourage us, but look past the smokescreen and see the victory we already have in Jesus! Hold onto His promises.

Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, — Ezra 4:1-2 (NKJV) When the people of Judah and Benjamin refused to let their enemies "help" them build the temple of God, they tried to discourage them. They attempted to frustrate their purposes and then they sent accusations against them to the king. When we are in the process of doing something for God, we can expect our adversary to show up. We must stay alert and be of sober mind, because our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).