Prayer Journal
Saturday, August 12, 2000
"But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat." Neh 4:9
The indication of a person's character is seen as they respond to a threat. The enemies of Nehemiah conspired to stir up trouble and fight against him and those helping him. Nehemiah's reaction? 1) pray and 2) keep their guard up.
1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." And how does Peter say we should respond to Satan's threat? "Resist him and stand firm in the faith.."
You may be wondering how to resist and stand firm against an enemy with weapons and plans to destroy you. You may have the image of our martyred brothers and their families standing defenseless in the coliseum against hungry lions and paid assassins, called gladiators.
It is true that we could be called to stand up and be destroyed, either by murder or slander. But, it is also true that the lions, gladiators or liars can't do anything that God doesn't allow. When we, like Nehemiah, allow God to fight our battles (Neh 4:20), we are positioned to be overcomers by His power. Nothing can harm us - Our God will fight for us!
"'..and it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon formed against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me', declares the Lord." Isa 54:16b,17
(1) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
(2) The images used herein were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
