But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”
Jeremiah 1:17-19
Lord Jesus I love these verses! How many times have I thought it is time to get myself ready for work? Or how many times have I said I need to have “thick skin” or need to “put my big boy pants on?” These verses speak to that mindset, at least to me, today. Clearly You are calling me to get about the work You are calling me to do, and to get over what people may think or say about it.
I confess that it is easier said than done. There are always currents that push against me when I try to move in the direction of Your calling. Sometimes it manifests itself in the voices and opinions of those around me. What makes that bad is when they are the voices of those closest to me who have proven to have my back. Or it can manifest itself in what appears to be dire circumstances from following after You. Yet, as Your Word reminds me, I must hold fast to Your precious promise that if I press on, all the forces coming up against me shall not prevail. In You I have the victory!
Give me Holy Spirit inspired resolve today. Continue to remind me that I am “a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls.” By Your power and according to Your Word and Your will, remind me that I can overcome all that comes my way when I commit myself to accomplishing Your purposes in my life. As I set my eyes towards doing just that, let Your presence rain down thick upon me that I might know that You are with me, even and especially when I feel most alone. I know that You’ve got my back. Because of this, wherever You send me I shall go. Point the way to Your glory. Amen.