When we start intentionally taking steps in the Spirit, the enemy takes note. With every level there’s another devil.
And as we explore this truth, we see an example of it in the Book of Nehemiah, where this man, inspired with a vision from God, chose to lead God’s people to take steps to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah experienced opposition from three men attempting to stop his steps as he rebuilt the walls. The names of those opposing him were Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, and each one of them had a different tactic.
- Sanballat mocked Nehemiah’s attempts at rebuilding and tried to distract him.
- Don’t let the enemy’s mockery of the size of your step stop you from walking.
- Tobiah attempted to sabotage Nehemiah’s progress.
- Protect your progress by taking a step even when you haven’t perfected things.
- Geshem falsely accused Nehemiah and intimidated him.
- Don’t let the enemy’s accusations convince you that you can’t get back up because God’s grace has run out.
In Nehemiah 6:3 (NIV) Nehemiah responds to those trying to distract him from his walk in a war of words by saying, “Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”
The work God was doing would only stop if Nehemiah stopped walking. Nehemiah’s response to the enemy was, “You won’t stop me from taking my next step in God’s purpose!” and because of that, the walls were completed, Gods people could belong in the safety of the city and a legacy was left for generations.
My prayer response:
- The enemy may mock the size of your step stop you from walking.
- The enemy may attempt to sabotage your progress by making you feel you’re not perfect.
- The enemy might try and intimidate you with false accusations.
Invite Jesus to come into those areas of your life in which you are struggling to walk in the Spirit or feeling the enemy’s opposition against you.
Pray back to God, a declaration of faith based on the following scriptures:
- Isaiah 54:17 (NLT)
“no weapon turned against you will succeed.” - Romans 8:31 (NLT)
- “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”
- Romans 8:37 (NLT)
- “despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”
My daily practice
Be mindful today of the moments, spaces and places in which you feel most distracted or discouraged from walking in the spirit. In those moments allow yourself to pause and remember the verses you declared in your prayer for the day:
- “no weapon turned against me will succeed.”
- “If God is for me, who can ever be against me?”
- “despite all these things, overwhelming victory is mine through Christ, who loves me.”
Then make a conscious decision to keep instep with the Spirit instead of allowing the distractions to derail you.