Nehemiah 4:17 “Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other.”

As Nehemiah lead the Jews to follow God’s call to rebuild the wall, they were mocked, threatened and pleaded with by family to stop the work. But Nehemiah would not succumb to the opposition and forged ahead in faith. He prayed and “set a guard as a protection against them day and night.” (4:9)

As women in ministry with a call on our lives we often hear lies that sound like mocking, threatening and pressure to stop.

“Your ministry is insignificant. It will not make a difference.”

“You don’t have the gifting for this.”

“You can’t do it. They will never let you.”

“Please don’t go. Stay.”

What lies do you hear as you seek to follow God’s leading in your life?

Nehemiah had his laborers work with one hand and with the other hand holding a weapon. What a visual picture of moving forward with a defensive stance.

What is your defensive stance?

For me, I find that if I am connecting with God and resting in Him, I am more ready to discount the lies and even hear less of them. If I meditate on Scripture that refutes the lies, their power weakens. And if I pray against them, I become stronger and can move ahead in faith.

How about you?