DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED

ALL AFFLICTIONS ARE PERMITTED BY GOD! (PART 2 OF 2)

June 14, 2023

OVERCOMING TRAUMA AND SUFFERING

June 16, 2023

15th JUNE 2023

“Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them because it is the Lord your God who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you” – Deuteronomy 31:6,8

Often, we get intimidated by the goals we have set for ourselves. We want to achieve certain things, but we are often disturbed by the thoughts of whether we will succeed or not. Intimidation is a state of becoming timid or fearful due to real or implied threats. For instance, Bullies use intimidation to force their victims to do what they want them to do. There are various ways by which we are intimidated, causing us not to actualize our goals. They are;

1.     Fear of failure

2.     Fear of the enemies or competitors

3.     Lack of resources to execute the set objectives

4.     Procrastination

Moving forward becomes a difficult task when we are troubled by the above hindrances. It is normal and natural to have obstacles in life, and nothing has come easy since the fall of man. However, the Bible tells us that God is there to help us overcome.

The Bible tells us in Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” Therefore, be strong and courageous for God is there with you. The one who spoke the world into existence is capable of seeing you through any difficulty. Before you embark on any endeavour, God already knows what is ahead of you, and He knows what obstacles will come your way. If you take God into confidence, He will go ahead of you and make every crooked path straight before you.

Most of the giant strides we wish to take in life are at times offensive to our competitors or those envious of us. Do not run away or throw in the towel when such opposition arises. Nehemiah says, “Should a man like me run away”? (Nehemiah 6:11). Nehemiah made that statement when he was being hunted by Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab when he was to build the walls of Jerusalem. The three wanted to intimidate Nehemiah and, if possible, to kill him finally so that Nehemiah would not complete the construction of the walls of Jerusalem. Despite the intimidation and threat to his life, Nehemiah was not moved. He continued his work and also committed everything to God in prayers. (Ref: Nehemiah 6:1-14)

PRAYER

Father in the name of Jesus Christ, protect my endeavours and life from the spirit of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab., and grant me success in my works. AMEN.

  FURTHER READING: 2 Timothy 1:7; Nehemiah 6:1-14; Romans 8:31

Mary Lawrence-Dokpesi

Mary Lawrence-Dokpesi was born in Nigeria to Patrick Abuda Obeakemhe and Juliana Fatimatu Obeakemhe, both from Ogbona Town. With a master’s degree in law, she was called to the bar at the age of twenty-two, and she is currently the principle partner of the law firm Mary Lawrence-Dokpesi & Associates. She is also the founder of two philanthropic organizations: the Living Waters Mission and the Rose Croix Foundation. In addition to law, Lawrence-Dokpesi was drawn to spiritual pursuits at an early age, having begun studying philosophy, theology, chaplaincy, and spirit therapy by the age of eighteen. Inspired by her spiritual calling, she has produced ten intensively researched manuscripts on spiritual matters. Although Understanding the Spiritual was the last to be written, it is the first to be published. Lawrence-Dokpesi is a mother and a wife living in the city of Abuja, Nigeria.