Another device that the enemy uses is devaluation or demeaning you as a person or your capabilities.
We can see this when Moses found two Israelite men fighting and as he tried to settle the dispute, one of them asked him, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us?” (Exodus 2:14) This was a demeaning question since Moses was a prince as he had been brought up by Pharaoh’s daughter.
We can also see this demeaning scenario when David’s older brother Eliab heard him asking the reward for killing Goliath because he asked David, “With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and rudeness.” (1 Kings 17:28)
Eliab spoke to David in this manner to demean him in front of those people he was talking to by reminding them that David was just a proud and rude shepherd of a small flock.
Another point to learn from this situation is that the devil often uses family members and other people who “know you” very well to attack you in this manner so that their demeaning words can be taken seriously by their listeners.
In David’s case, his brother Eliab was the first born while he was the 7th born. Eliab could thus be taken as a great authority on David’s character by the listeners.
When dealing with such situations, emulate David because He turned away from Eliab (1 Samuel 17:30) and continued to focus on the great cause of killing Goliath which catapulted him into fame.
Therefore do not let people bring you down with their demeaning questions or statements. Turn away from them and focus on the great cause of fulfilling God's purpose for your life.
We can also see another example of this demeaning when Nehemiah and the Israelites where rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem because When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall ... he mocked the Jews 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?” (Nehemiah 4:1-2)
Sanballat tried to demean the Jews by calling them weak and then he attempted to demean their capabilities by asking if they could strengthen themselves and offer sacrifices.
He also tried to discredit their resources by stating that the stones they were using to build the wall were not only burnt but they were also buried in heaps of rubbish.
Therefore, if you find someone telling you that you and your qualifications, skills, efforts, tools and equipment amount to a big nothing, understand that that is just another device of the devil and pray.
Pray like Nehemiah did for he said, Hear, O our God, for we are despised and turn their reproach on their own heads ... Do not cover their iniquity and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You because they have provoked you to anger before the builders. (Nehemiah 4:4-5)
After praying, continue working and doing what God has called you to do like Nehemiah did for he says, We built the wall and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height because the people had a mind to work. (Nehemiah 4:6)
Therefore do not take to heart the insults meted to you. Set your mind on fulfilling your purpose and work in the midst of the criticism.
Understand also that these demeaning attacks are likely to come when you are attempting to rebuild your life, your marriage, your health, your career, your finances, or any other thing that has been destroyed in your life just like Nehemiah and the Israelites who were rebuilding the walls of their city Jerusalem when they were facing this attack.
These attacks happen during the reconstruction process because the enemy loves seeing God’s people living in ruins and desolation.
But, as a child of the Almighty God do not accept to live in ruins on in the wilderness when you can rebuild your ruined life and live an abundant life in your Promised Land.
Therefore believe that In all these things you are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ who loves you (Romans 8:37) and continue rebuilding.
Praises t God all ppl should have copy
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