“So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing important work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same proposal, and I gave them the same reply.
Nehemiah 6:3-4
Quick review: Nehemiah was a Hebrew living in Persia, and received permission from the king to return to Jerusalem to rebuild her wall. This work was opposed by the Samaritans, under the leadership of a man named Sanballat. In today’s verses, Sanballat sent messengers four times to get Nehemiah to meet him outside of Jerusalem. But Nehemiah knew it for what it was – an attempt to not just harm him, but to stop the work.
Lord, open our eyes to see the scheming of our enemy!
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Giving
- Discipleship
- Serving
- Evangelism
- Meditating on His Word
- Forgiving others, bearing burdens, encouraging others
Just some of the work of the Kingdom that the enemy schemes to call us away from, using apathy, busy-ness, fear, disappointment, guilt, offense, and all manner of such things.
I can search my pockets and find plenty of excuses. My plate is too full as it is. I’m worn out. I’m an introvert (my go to for most things that involve other people). It’s not my gifting. I’m not called to that. I feel inadequate. Seriously, my pockets are quite full.
But I need to know truth so that I can walk in truth.
There is an enemy who is always trying to call me away from the work of the Kingdom.
But on a practical note, walking in this truth will take discernment, and an ear that hears the voice of God. Because I need to know whether it is the enemy calling me away from the work, or, if God is saying “that is not the work I have for you to do right now.”
So I pray for you and for me, that the whisper of God will be louder than the shouts of the enemy.
Karla Jo Wasion 