DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS to live by
(By: Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi)
( 89) Don’t let people’s negative words discourage and stop you from doing what God has instructed you to do.
In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah had the mandate to rebuild the broken down walls but when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked him and regarded him with contempt and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
Nehemiah 2:19
What you do in a situation like this and how you respond to negative comments matter.
Nehemiah had done his homework well. He was sure of God’s involvement and answered them, “The God of heaven has appointed us for His purpose and will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2:20 AMP
Nehemiah did not listen to them and when he and his people actually began the work of rebuilding the walls, Sanballat and the others became furious and very indignant.
They mocked Nehemiah and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish— stones that are burned?”
Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”
Nehemiah 4:1-3 NKJV
What were Sanballat and the others trying to do by saying those negative words? They were trying to discourage Nehemiah and his people so the work of rebuilding the walls could stop.
Again, Nehemiah refused to be moved by those words. Instead, he prayed. “Hear, O our God, for we are despised …!”
Nehemiah 4:4 NKJV
You probably have heard someone tell you “This is a waste of time.” “Forget about this and get a job.”
To get things right like Nehemiah, the first important thing is that you must be certain of God’s will and God’s timing concerning the thing.
Next, you need to consider where the criticism is coming from.
If it’s from someone you trust, or a spiritual parent you trust, or someone who truly cares about you, then you should consider the criticism and pray. God might be using them to get your attention to see some truth.
I pray this year brings everything that will make you smile in Jesus name.
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