I was flipping through the channels last night and came across an old Rambo movie. Sylvester Stallone plays John Rambo, a Vietnam veteran, who’s been called on to go on a secret mission.

Some government official is trying to impress Rambo by talking about the most powerful weapons they have at their disposal.

Rambo replies, “I always thought the mind was the most powerful weapon.”

There’s a lot of truth in that statement.

In the fourth chapter of the book of Ezra, God’s people are trying to rebuild the temple long after it was destroyed by the Babylonians. People around Jerusalem learn of what they’re doing and determine to stop them.

It says they “set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They hired consultants to work against them and frustrate their plans…”

In the book of Ephesians, Paul warns us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against forces of evil in the spiritual realm.

Satan was using the people around Jerusalem to discourage Judah and cause them to be afraid. Discouragement and fear are powerful weapons aimed at the mind.

A mind that is filled with God’s word and intent on trusting Him is even more powerful. Satan knows this.

What has God called you to do? Whatever it is, He will provide the power, the wisdom and all the resources you need.

Satan will try to convince you otherwise. He will use other people to discourage you and cause you to be afraid. Don’t be surprised when this happens.

Decide now to believe what God says about you and your circumstances. Reject the doubt-filled, discouraging comments and questions from those who are unwilling to trust God.