Nehemiah 4: 10-12
10 Then Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.” 11 And our adversaries said, “They will neither know nor see anything, till we come into their midst and kill them and cause the work to cease.” 12 So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, “From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us.”
Words are powerful and they can either build up or tear down. The bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. As the laborers were busy doing the work, the enemy was busy speaking words to discourage them and stop the work.
I am reminded of the children of Israel when they were about to enter the land of promise. Moses sent out 12 men to go spy the land, and all except two came back with a discouraging report that brought fear into the camp. Because of this, the people did not enter. Only Joshua and Caleb believed that they could go in and take the land.
When people around us and especially people with authority over us such as parents, or teachers speak negative words over us, we get so discouraged. For some people, these words become like a bookmark that holds them back, and they can not move on in life. These words become like a prophecy.
This is why God told Joshua when he took over from Moses that the most important thing for him to do is meditate on the book of the law day and night. This is because what you meditate on consistently will determine what you will do.
The negative words spoken over us make us believe the wrong things, and they stop us from doing the thing God has called us to do.
Reading the word of God and meditating on it day and night makes you aware of what God your creator says about you and what he says you can or cannot do. Since it is God who created you, then he only can tell you what you are capable of and what you are not.
Lest we forget, the enemy of our souls is the father of all lies, and no truth can come from him. All that he tells us is a lie because his agenda is to kill, steal and destroy.
May we learn to listen to the report of the Lord. As the song says, “Whose report will we believe? We shall believe the report of the Lord!
Reflections
What are some words that were spoken over your life and you believed them and they have been holding you back?
What have these words kept you for accomplishing?
What must you then do to ensure that your mind is renewed?
