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"You are Unstoppable" By Diane Webb
Psalms 27: 3—"Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident."
Have you ever felt you were surrounded by enemies—people who meant you harm? Have you been attacked-- physically, verbally, or emotionally? David speaks of being surrounded by an army and not being afraid. He says even if he is attacked by this army he will remain confident. Knowing someone wishes you harm—even if it's not physical—is unnerving. Many people are threatened by those who are closest to them. We may have people who are jealous and therefore try to bring us down in one way or another. We may be in a group of people who are threatened by us because of our talents and try to make us feel inferior. We may be talked down to or lied about by our own family members. When you are not the kind of person to want to put someone else down to feel better about yourself it's difficult to understand why people do this. Enemies who threaten us physically are easy to think of as enemies. People who simply eat away at our sense of confidence by cutting remarks, sarcasm, or name calling may not be so easy to see as enemies. People who are against us are against us all the time. Even if they are nice on some days it does not mean they are no longer our enemy. Regardless, there is no need to fear. You can be confident in yourself even when you have people like this in your life. You do not have to let the words or actions of others tell you how to feel about yourself. Think of David whose own son rose up against him and tried to have him killed. How hurtful that must have been for David to experience. All enemies who came against David were people he had been very close to and loved. David was being attacked verbally (through lies and slander) as well as physically (through armies trying to find him and kill him). He had moments of great despair yet always turned to God for his strength, safety and security. In the end, he put his trust in God and in God's will for his life. When you feel threatened, remember your salvation and remember David. Pray to God for guidance, strength, and confidence in your ability to face what you have to face. Trust that everything put before you, as a Christian, is approved by God. Nothing can happen to you that God has not allowed as long as you have given your life to Him. You do not have to be perfect, just trying—to the best of your ability—to follow God's will for your life. Think of Job who did absolutely nothing wrong and withstood an attack in which he lost everything and everyone dear to him. Sure, he got it back and more but the new family was not the same people as the old family. The people he lost were gone from his life on earth. It seems strange God would allow tragedy to occur in our lives. However, knowing the skills we need to gain and the areas we need strengthening, God knows what he is doing. We do not have to understand, we only need to trust. We can be confident, like David, that God is with us through whatever we face and he will not lead us down a wrong path. We need not fear anyone or anything. Even if we die, we will live forever (John 6: 51). If death cannot stop us then what on earth can?
Dear Lord, help me today to always remember you know what you are doing. Remove from me all fear of people and restore my confidence in myself through you. Help me trust that you know what you are doing and you can and will protect me from my enemies—even in the middle of battle or conflict—you will look out for me. I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Hey Diane! I really enjoy reading your post. They are so uplifting for my spirit. I have come in contact with those type of people you talk about, and before, I wore my heart on my sleeve and "boo-hooed a lot. Since I've gained a Serious relationship with God, they don't bother me anymore. I just brush them off as being ignorant of the ways of a Christian and go on. I usually tell them "I'll pray for you" and they just look at me dumbfounded. Really it's kind of funny to see their reactions.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
PJ