Christian Devotional – July 9, 2017

Do we live in readiness for an attack? As a believer in Jesus Christ, we should know that there is always an attack on the horizon. The world hates us, Satan hates us, and both are looking for an opportunity to strike at us. Nehemiah completely understood that feeling. As you read in Nehemiah chapter 4 verses 15 through 23, we see how Nehemiah responds to the threat of attack. He is already been warned that he has opposition to the God-given purpose of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. He knows they are planning an attack. So what does he do? He readies his troops and helps them understand that while the work must continue, they must also be ready to defend themselves and their God-given purpose. They are constantly in a state of readiness. They sleep with their weapons. They go get drinks of water with their weapons. They work with their weapons. Constantly, ever vigilant, ready for when the attack may come.

Do we live our life that way? We know there will be attack. But are we constantly in a state of readiness understanding that God has given us a purpose and that the enemy is looking for ways to thwart that purpose. We can have no other purpose than what God has given us, but we must be ready to defend ourselves from the enemy who will seek to attack. Maybe the attack comes through weapons as Nehemiah feared, but more often today the attack comes in more sneaky ways through words, reputation, money, etc. Are we utilizing the armor of God as listed in Galatians chapter 6? And are we ready for an attack?