Nehemiah 4:14, New Living Translation

“Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!’”

We are all created by God with a unique purpose. No one else can do what God has called you to do and no one can do what God has called me to do. God has equipped us with what we need to complete our purpose. But there’s also our enemy, who recognizes the power within us. He doesn’t want us to succeed. He will try to plant lies in your mind that will cause you to doubt. This is nothing new. 

In Nehemiah, He receives word that the wall Jerusalem has been burned down. There is nothing left. He wept, fasted, and paraded. With God’s favor, he was sent to rebuild the wall. Nehemiah 4:1-2 (NLT) says this, “Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, ‘What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?’”

We may not be building a wall like Nehemiah and his fellow Jews, but we have a purpose, a destiny. This purpose is discovered through our relationship with Christ. As this develops, satan will be there to question and cause doubt. “Are you really called to do this? Do you really think you are capable of this? What makes you so special?” We must be able to recognize the voice of the enemy and rebuke his lies. John 10:27-30 (NLT) says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

This is huge! Jesus is telling us that when we are saved, no one can take us from our Father! What amazing love is lavish upon us! Back in Nehemiah 4:14 (NLT). Nehemiah tells the people, “… Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” Let us follow the advice! Satan will come to steal, kill, and destroy. But if we are right with God, then God will fight for us, we only need to cry out to him! Isaiah 58:11 (NLT) says this, “The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” This is nothing we can accomplish on our own or in our own strength. We must stay close to our Father! He is the source of hope, strength, and power!

Nehemiah six, Nehemiah continues to face opposition. And our own walk to fulfill our purpose, we too will face opposition or even temptation. The enemy doesn’t want us to succeed, Nehemiah realized, “… I realized they were plotting to harm me.” (Nehemiah 6:2, NLT) and “I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.” (Nehemiah 6:12-13, NLT)

Again, we must recognize, discern the voice of our enemy, and we must push through to finish our purpose on earth! We don’t realize the effect we may have on and what God will do!

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a normal person like you and I when she received news from an angel that she would give birth to the Messiah through the Holy Spirit. She could have said no due to the consequences of being a virgin and not married, yet she accepted the Lord’s will for her life. She raised Jesus as her own and He became the sacrificial lamb for the sins of the world. One person yes brought the salvation of many! Don’t underestimate the purpose that God has for you or the power of God within you! Don’t let the enemy steal your eyes!