Hindrance...

Have you ever felt defective? Like there is some part of you that got messed up and now
God could not use you as you had hoped. 

This question hit home because I had failed, ONCE AGAIN, in speaking  truth with love to someone.   As soon as the angry words were out of my mouth I knew I had stepped on the devils territory.  From that point on my thought life took on a destructive pattern with words such as:  you are really not fit to teach a bible study, you cannot control  your mouth.   I am not shocked that I sin, but shocked at how quickly I get defeated over it.  How easily I want to crawl into a pit like a coward and not show my face to anyone.  

Thank God, thank God for I John 1:9  This precious word of truth gives me strength to come out of the pit.  

God used a message I read not to long ago about Nehemiah and the  hindrance he came up against as he served the Lord.  

1.  Neh. 6:1-4, Don't negotiate...that is what Eve did and we know the out come of that.   Ever try to negotiate with God? Wrong way to handle our sin.  When it comes to our sin we blame whoever is around for the reason we acted like we did. 

2. Neh. 6:5-9.  Don't give into intimidation.  If the devil can't take you out of serving, he'll try to scare you out.   

3.  Neh. 6:10-13. Don't fall prey to elimination.  The devil will try to trip us up with our sin and ruin your witness before others. If he can get us to lose our temper, build upon pride or get involved in some questionable business we can be elimination from serving God.  Eph. 5:15-17  Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men or women but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  

4. Neh. 6:15-19 Maintain your supplication. Pray, pray, pray a minute, an hour, when you walk, lie down, ride in your car, You got to have a Holy determined to handle hindrance. You got to have a faith that believes God can help you over come any sin in God's strength which He will liberally give to those who will humble themselves and pray

“Whoever is truly humbled — will not be easily angry, nor harsh or critical of others. He will be compassionate and tender to the infirmities of his fellow-sinners, knowing that if there is a difference — it is grace alone which has made it! He knows that he has the seeds of every evil in his own heart. And under all trials and afflictions — he will look to the hand of the Lord, and lay his mouth in the dust, acknowledging that he suffers much less than his iniquities have deserved.” 

― John Newton,   (Can I get an Amen?)