What do you do when you know you are going to face your enemies? You are not going for a show down, you are reaching out in peace. They invite you, so they can mock you and ridicule you, all the while thinking you are too dumb to notice their web of lies and deceit. They are arrogant and proud. They think they know better than you, and look down on you. Once again you try and extend an olive branch, which you know will be broken, spat on and ridiculed. It doesn’t even matter if they have to resort to lies. The bible says to bless those that persecute you.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
–Romans 12:14 (NIV)
It is hard to actually bless those who wish you harm, even if its just words. Its the last thing that you want to do. Without God, it can be torture. Its much easier to deny an invitation and pray for those you do not have to see. It is much harder to go into a lion’s den of false friends. You are raw and exposed. You know they are hanging on every word you say, to take and use it against you or to turn it around to hurt you, make you feel left out and not wanted. When you walk in the midst of trouble, God will preserve our lives. God will stretch out his hand to us against the anger and save us. I think that means that God will save us and protect us from all the lies they say against us and the truths they twist to suit their needs. I think God will save me, my heart, my mind, my thoughts. God will save me from the lies. Truly with God protecting my heart, how can anyone harm me? Think of those who spend their time working against you…how happy can they really be? Can you imagine spending our valuable time trying to make others look bad? Can you imagine spending your thoughts and efforts to try and make others hate you? It is really sad, when you think about it. They must be so miserable and angry inside. They can look good on the outside, but their insides are rotting away from anger and resentment. I thank God that I am not them. I thank God for shining his light in my heart.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
–Psalm 138:7 (NIV)
God gives us his spirit. God will give u the spirit of endurance. This world is just a breath, a short moment in the history of time. God’s spirit is forever. Nobody will remember your enemy and the lies. God’s judgement is the only one that matters.
What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.
–1 Corinthians 2:12 (NIV)
If God is pleased with us, he can make our enemies be at peace with us. Can you imagine your enemy having nothing to say about you? I cannot. That would be amazing. My enemy takes bits of information and spends a great deal of time twisting it into lies to create as much hate as possible. My enemy has an evil and wicked heart.
When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
–Proverbs 16:7 (KJV)
God asks us not to take revenge. God’s wrath will repay our enemies. It is not our place to take revenge. God will do it for us, as he sees right. I don’t want to remember every hurt or transgression against me. It will make my angry and bitter. I choose God, who will fight my battles for me and seek justice for me.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
–Romans 12:19 New International Version (NIV)
God’s spirit gives us power to stand in the face of our enemy and smile with confidence, knowing that the almighty one stands for us. God’s spirit gives us power, love and self discipline. We don’t need to get angry, instead we can laugh at insults.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
–2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
I cannot do any of this alone. I must pray to God for courage, strength and wisdom. When God is for us, who can be against us? Our best defense against our enemy is a good offense, seeking God. Praying. Reading the bible. Arming ourselves with scripture verses.
Embrace This Beautiful Life 