Re: Verse reading–Nehemiah 6:1-16 (day seven) “They were all trying to frighten us.”–v 9.
It is a familiar strategy. Our enemy (Satan) uses it against us (Christians) with great regularity. Step 1–Create fear (cancer, job loss, abandonment, a new pastor. . .you fill in the blank). Step 2–Seep this fear into the center of the heart (where faith belongs). Step 3–Allow/encourage decisions to be made, attitudes to be set from this anxious heart. Step 4–Dismiss all protests against such action as “I am just being realistic”. Step 5–Rest satisfied (Satan does) that no power or progress will come to this neutralized-by-fear-life. No progress. Just constant positioning against the thing feared.
Nehemiah knew. “Whatever is not from faith is sin”–Romans 14:23.
Great post! Faith versus fear! Faith can move mountains. Thanks for the reminder of Satan’s fear tactic Pastor Don!
Phuong Callaway, Ph.D, CA