BUILD WITH ONE HAND AND HOLD YOUR WEAPON IN THE OTHER
Dear mother, you are in the greatest building program in the nation--building strong, godly marriages and families. Proverbs 16:14 reminds us that we are builders: “Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.”
Building a godly family in this deceived and evil age is not for wimps. We passionately desire to build godly families who walk in holiness and the fear of the Lord. We want our homes to be sanctuaries filled with the divine presence of God. But the enemy lurks around waiting to knock us out. Waiting for opportunities to subtly come into our home and influence our children with deception and temptations.
Therefore, it is not enough to build. We must be on the lookout. We must guard our home on every front.
When Nehemiah came back to build up the walls of Jerusalem and the gates that were burned down, the enemy tried every way to thwart his plans. He didn’t want the walls of Jerusalem to be built up. Nor does he want you to build a godly family and train children who know how to destroy his works (1 John 3:8). He doesn’t want your walls to be strong to guard against his intrusions. He constantly lurks around waiting to attack with his deceptions and temptations.
What did Nehemiah do when their enemies surrounded them? He encouraged the Jews to keep building with one hand and have their weapon ready to use with the other hand. Nehemiah 4:16-18 (ESV) says: “Half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail . . . 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. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built.”
Never give up building, Mother. But also beware of the devil’s devices. Put on your armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). Build with one hand and hold your weapons in your other hand. Make sure your sword is strapped to your side. Keep God’s Word in your heart and mouth, ready to resist the enemy and send him kicking. Jesus pushed back the enemy with the Word of the Lord which is the sword of the Spirit. Every time the devil came to tempt him, He said, “It is written” (Matthew 4:1-11). You can push back the enemy the same way Jesus did.
Be encouraged today,
Nancy Campbell
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