"Distracting Enemies"

"That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" Nehemiah 6:2,3

We have all heard numerous sermons on how Sanballat had tried to distract Nehemiah from his task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. His attempt was to get him to stop altogether and leave the work undone. This morning I believe the story needs repeating again. We can never be reminded enough that our adversary is always at work trying to get us to stop doing what the Lord has called us to do.

He will try to get you to stop by any means that he thinks he can achieve his goal. He will use temptations-- lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes and the pride of life. He will use distractions. He will use discouragement. He will use accusations. He will use other people- godly and ungodly alike. He will use those closest to you and those that are total strangers. He will even use "good" things-- things that appear to be harmless. He will use anything from giants to little foxes.

When do we need to be on guard concerning his attempts? Everyday. He will come in the most obvious ways, but he will also come when you least expect it. Nehemiah expected the enemy to try to fight against the rebuilding of the walls because of the protection they would have from them. King David did not expect the enemy to attack him by just walking out on his balcony that fateful evening when he saw Bathsheba on the roof top. That is why we must be on guard at all times.

Just remember this morning that your enemy does not want you to succeed in the task that the Lord has called you to do. He doesn't want you to finish it. He wants it left undone. He wants to keep his "easy access". He wants to stop you. Nehemiah did not give in to the enemy. He did not listen to his threats. He did not fall into his trap. He kept focused on the task he was given to do and his God who called him to do it. You don't have to give in and stop what the Lord has called you to do either. Just do the same thing Nehemiah did-- stay focused on God and the task.

Have a great day. The enemy is always trying to stop us from doing what God has called us to do. But we will avoid his trap if we stay focused on God and the task.

For further reading:
Isaiah 50:7
Psalm 121:1,2
Philippians 3:14
Song of Solomon 2:15

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
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