Defeating The Plans Of The Enemy

REFERENCE: Ezra 4:4 Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work.

Observation: Our enemy, Satan, uses the same tactics to try to keep us from doing the work God has given us to do. He tries to discourage us, making us feel like all our work is for nothing, and he tries to cause us fear and anxiety, making us afraid of what might happen in the future.

The cures are simply yet, sometimes, hard to apply. We must remind ourselves and be fully convinced that nothing done for God is wasted. We may feel like our efforts are accomplishing little or nothing but in God eyes our mere obedience is success in and of itself.

As Romans 8 reminds us, if God is on our side what possible reason can we have for fear or anxiety? We must never let that truth leave our minds.

Like I said, the cure is simple but not easy. If we are going to be successful in finishing the work God has given us to do, we must talk to ourselves and remind ourselves of the truth, time after time, that, as kids of the King, we have no reason for discouragement or fear.

Application/Confession: Sometimes, frankly, there seems to be a lot to discourage me and make me anxious. I will remind myself of these truths and I will overcome my fear and anxiety.

PRAYER: Lord, remind me, make it very real to me that You have my future in Your hands and that You will take care of me. By Your grace relieve me from fear and anxious thoughts.