Manna for Your Morning

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.

So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” — Nehemiah 6:3 (NKJV) The adversaries of the Israelites continually mocked, harassed and threatened Nehemiah, in an attempt to stop the work of God in their lives. Just as our enemy wants to pull you down and stop the work of God in your life. Don’t give place to the distractions. As you remain diligent to do the work God has given you, He will take care of all that concerns you. Whatever your God given assignment, whether big or small, it’s a great work. Arise and continue to build!

Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” — Nehemiah 2:17, 18b (NKJV) Even though their enemies tried to stop the work of God, Nehemiah and his team successfully completed the wall. At times, our lives may seem to be no more than a pile of rubbish, broken pieces of debris scattered about. But God is in the business of restoration. He will use every piece of our broken lives and make something beautiful. Let us rise up and actively engage in what God wants to do in our lives. Out of the rubbish, Nehemiah re-built the walls of Jerusalem. What will you build for the LORD, with the rubble of your life?

Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night. — Nehemiah 4:9 (NKJV) When the Israelites were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, their adversaries were very angry and conspired together against them to cause the work to cease. God’s people responded in prayer and also in arming themselves with swords, spears and bows. Whatever work you engage in, for the Lord, know that you will encounter adversaries, who want nothing more than to stop the work of God. When enemies rise up against you, don't be afraid of them, remember the Lord, great and awesome! (Nehemiah 4:14). May we arm ourselves, with prayer and with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Then we can rely on the power and protection of our great God.