Be Prepared for Warfare
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." - Ephesians 6:11
When opposition came against Nehemiah and the people of God as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, they did not panic. They did not quit. They did not let fear paralyze them. Instead, they took a two-fold approach.
They prayed and they set a guard.
They fought in the spiritual by calling on God, and they fought in the natural by making sure they were ready for battle. This is a powerful picture of how believers should prepare for spiritual warfare. Progress always invites opposition, and if you are not prepared, the enemy will do everything possible to slow you down.
Nehemiah divided the people into groups. Some worked while others stood guard. Some carried their materials with one hand and held a weapon in the other. Every worker had a sword strapped to their side, ready for an attack at any moment. They understood that building something for God does not mean the battle stops. It means the battle intensifies.
This is where many believers struggle. Some focus on their work and forget about spiritual warfare, leaving themselves open to attacks from the enemy. Others focus so much on the fight that they stop building altogether. Nehemiah’s people did both at the same time. They worked and they fought. They labored and they stayed ready. They advanced while remaining alert.
This is the posture you need in your own life. You cannot afford to let your guard down. You cannot assume that just because you are doing God’s work, there will be no resistance. You need to stay equipped, stay prayed up, and stay in position. You need a shovel in one hand and a sword in the other.
So do not get so caught up in the work that you stop watching. Do not get so distracted by the fight that you stop building. Stand firm, stay prepared, and never let your guard down. The enemy is always looking for a way to stop you, but if you keep your sword in hand and your eyes on God, no attack can stop what He has called you to do.
When opposition came against Nehemiah and the people of God as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, they did not panic. They did not quit. They did not let fear paralyze them. Instead, they took a two-fold approach.
They prayed and they set a guard.
They fought in the spiritual by calling on God, and they fought in the natural by making sure they were ready for battle. This is a powerful picture of how believers should prepare for spiritual warfare. Progress always invites opposition, and if you are not prepared, the enemy will do everything possible to slow you down.
Nehemiah divided the people into groups. Some worked while others stood guard. Some carried their materials with one hand and held a weapon in the other. Every worker had a sword strapped to their side, ready for an attack at any moment. They understood that building something for God does not mean the battle stops. It means the battle intensifies.
This is where many believers struggle. Some focus on their work and forget about spiritual warfare, leaving themselves open to attacks from the enemy. Others focus so much on the fight that they stop building altogether. Nehemiah’s people did both at the same time. They worked and they fought. They labored and they stayed ready. They advanced while remaining alert.
This is the posture you need in your own life. You cannot afford to let your guard down. You cannot assume that just because you are doing God’s work, there will be no resistance. You need to stay equipped, stay prayed up, and stay in position. You need a shovel in one hand and a sword in the other.
So do not get so caught up in the work that you stop watching. Do not get so distracted by the fight that you stop building. Stand firm, stay prepared, and never let your guard down. The enemy is always looking for a way to stop you, but if you keep your sword in hand and your eyes on God, no attack can stop what He has called you to do.
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