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Stand Your Ground

Have you ever felt that as you victoriously overcome a challenge, another challenge is waiting in the wings to take its place? It is as if one is in a constant state of war! But we know according to the Scriptures that the intention of God for His children is to have them live victorious lives, from one victory to victory. However, it is as if the reverse is the case because life has a way of throwing curves and turns at you. Well, it is not only peculiar to children of God even children of the world undergo similar if not worse challenges. Our consolation is that the Lord had spoken about this and had assured us not to be troubled because every challenge we face, we face it with God's confidence that the battles and war had been won by our Father.

Our text Nehemiah 4:1-9 opens with "...When Samballat heard..." For him to hear and take notice, there was a monitoring that was going on. The Bible tells us that the devil is like a roaring lion going about looking for who to devour. Picture that and realize that the enemy monitors to see if there is any change in the position he had placed the person. When the enemy heard you are no longer with him nor are you in the position he kept you he was furious and started raging saying you cannot succeed. Be rest assured that the enemy is only blowing hot air. The threats only become real if you stop to consider what he is saying.  Adam and the woman stopped the work they had being instructed to do to consider the deceit of the enemy, they not only lost their place,  they were thrown out of the garden. The day you stop to consider what the enemy is saying you would find yourself out of God's presence!

You might say 'why all these trouble and stress?' Stop a bit and consider the workings of sand paper against a rough wood surface? As the sand paper rubs against the rough wood surface, the sand paper wears out whilst the wood surface is made smooth and increasingly so as the sand paper continues to rub against it. Rather than Nehemiah quarreling or confronting the agents of disruption, he prayed, increasingly so too. As he did this, his determination, confidence grew in God and he was able to excel in what he was doing to the chagrin of his enemies. 

When Samballat and Tobias rose up against the children of Israel instead of striking fear in their hearts, the Bible says they continued to work because they were determined to. The detractors understood that authority had been given to the people of Israel to rebuild the wall and they equally saw that the power and determination they were exhibiting could only have been given to them by God to carry out the task; they then figured that the only way to stop them is to distract them. Friend if you are not determined in your walk with God, the samballats and tobias of this world are waiting in the wings to strike fear in your heart in order to distract you!

Friend no matter the huffing and puffing of the enemy, we must not get distracted by his deceit but have a clear and sober mind fixed on Jesus Christ. Remember always that you have been given the authority and power has been given to you. As we continue determinedly to obey the instructions of God we would then be able to discern the deceit and tricks of the devil. The outcome of this is you will be victorious and excel in every facet of life He has placed you to operate in. God bless you!

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