Hold Up Your Shield
There comes a time on this walking healed journey where you run into people who don’t understand your healing. They don’t understand your walk of freedom. In that, rather than find out the details and learn that there was years, literally years of suffering, pain, anguish, hurt, heartache, loneliness, fear, guilt, regret, thoughts of suicide, along with threats from others, accusations, disbelief by others that you actually have a problem, and many other things, they would rather throw insults at you. These people are uninformed. They are close-minded, helpless in their own walk and don’t know it. They say that your words are “vile” and “garbage” and try to discredit you. That could cause more hurt and damage to your newly healed mind but…
There is good news for you, dear one
God’s Word promises that, “No weapon formed against you will prosper, and every tongue that rises against you will fall” (Isaiah 54:17). Oh but that’s not all! When you are dressed in your armor of God, you can stand against this and “stop the fiery arrows of the devil” (Ephesians 6:16).
When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert, he didn’t rise to the occasion by throwing back arguments. He had no need to defend Himself. It’s easy to get in a heated debate with those whose sole intent is to engage you in a spiritual debate, discredit your belief, or even insult you and hurt and oppress you back into submission and intimidation. But rather than allow someone to do that to you, remember how Jesus handled His accuser, because he’s your accuser as well.
Jesus answered every taunt of the devil with God’s Word
You, dear one, have the power to defeat the enemy whether he’s in spiritual form or human form, using another person to come against you, including people who say they are Christians. But here is another precious gift; you don’t even have to utter a word to that person. You don’t have to respond. They will still throw taunts at you, but even your silence speaks volumes. I know this from experience.
I sit here today smiling. Not because what I write was recently called vile and garbage. That wasn’t pleasant. Instead, I had the most unusual response. Laughter. Not in a mean way, but in a way that assured me in my soul that yes, I am truly healed. I never felt fear. I never felt intimidated. I felt peace. I felt joy. And though my accuser said what was said on social media, no one responded to the taunt, including me. When I think about it now, instead of causing hurt he sent me right into the place where I belong; God’s Word.
My mind flooded with God’s promises from His Word. They were “hidden in my heart” (Psalm 119:11) ready at the exact moment I needed them. I am giving you a list of those promises below. Look them up, lovelies. Then the next time the devil throws fiery arrows your way, you’ll have your armor on too and his arrows will ricochet off your armor and be extinguished in the sea of hope surrounding you. Arise, mighty warrior princess! You are victorious! So live brave. Begin to believe that and never let another person get the best of you again.
God’s Promises for You (a short list)
Ephesians 6:10-18 Philippians 4:13 Romans 8:31
Romans 8:37 Isaiah 54:1 1 Samuel 17:47
Isaiah 66:13 Jeremiah 1:5 Jeremiah 17:7
Jeremiah 29:11-14 Jeremiah 32:27 Matthew 11:28
Mark 9:23 2 Corinthians 5:17 2 Corinthians 12:9
Ephesians 3:17 Colossians 2:7 1 Timothy 4:12
1 Timothy 6:12 2 Timothy 1:7 2 Timothy 3:16
Hebrews 11:1 Hebrews 4:12 Hebrews 6:19
James 4:8 1 Peter 5:7 1 Peter 5:8
2 Peter 3:14
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power. ~James 5:16, NLT
