Surrounded by the enemy

The next attack is intimidation of the enemy. This attack can be found in Nehemiah 4:7-9. The walls of Jerusalem are being built, and because of this Jerusalem enemies need to do something about it. So the enemies of Jerusalem surrounded the city and plan a secret attack. To the north was Sanballat and the Samaritans; to the east Tobiah and the Ammonites; to the south, Geshem and the Arabs; and to the west, the Ashdodites. Nehemiah suspected that his enemies would launch an attack, so he posted a guard and encouraged the people to pray, We learn in verse 17 that the workers held both tools and weapons and were prepared to fight when the signal was given. Watch and pray combines faith and works and is a good example for us to follow. The Christian battle is not against flesh and blood, but against Satan and his demonic forces that use flesh and blood to oppose the Lord's work. If we hope to win the war and finish the work, we must use the spiritual equipment God has provided. If we focus on the visible enemy alone and forget the invisible enemy, we are sure to start trusting our own resources; and this will lead to defeat. I think there's a huge lesson to be learned in this passage of scripture could you imagine what it must of been like to be Nehemiah, to be surrounded by your enemy!! I don't no much about war but 1 thing I do know is you never want to be surrounded. Your chances of escape or victory are very slim. Applying this passage to our lives it can be difficult to see the victory we have when were surrounded and intimidated by the enemy. You might feel hard pressed on every side or beaten down you might even say it's hard to be light with darkness all around if I can encourage you today know that God has given us to tools to stand and we need to rely on them in our time of need. I love in verse 9 how it says they prayed, so many times we look at the problem and not the answer. Nehemiah didn't let his enemy intimidate him he new his God would see him through. Be encouraged today that God will help you through any situation your facing regardless of how intimidating the enemy is.