Scripture Reading: Ezr 4:4 -5
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Reflection: The Jews broke free from Babylonian captivity by divine intervention. God authorized the heathen king Cyrus to release them. Back home in Jerusalem they began to build the broken down temple. This did not go down well with their enemies. After failing to use the weapon of getting them to compromise their faith, their next move was to get the people of Israel to become discouraged. They set up a system of words and events to break down the enthusiasm of the people of Israel to build. Discouragement is dispiritedness. It amounts to loss of confidence and enthusiasm. Thus when discouragement sets in, confidence and enthusiasm is crushed. Once crushed, the will power to accomplish a task diminishes and one gives up in life. Discouragement is therefore a major setback mechanism that the enemy can deploy against you. Resist it any time it rears it’s ugly head. Refuse to be discouraged in life.

Prayer: Oh Lord, let me have the power to resist the spirit of discouragement all the time.

Confession: I have no place for the spirit of discouragement in my life.