Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Today's Chapters: Psalms 54-59
Message Title: Overcoming Bullies

No matter who we are, we have all had to deal with some sort of bully at one time in our lives, and let me tell you, it's not just kids that get bullied. Having some one you barely know pick on you because you are different or stand up to yourself literally robs the joy out of your life. Perhaps the one thing more detrimental than a bully, someone you know and or love trying to or has hurt you. How is a person to live, love, and trust anyone when going through so much pain? God. God is our strength to go on, He is our help when all we want to do is shut everyone and everything out of our lives. “Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth. I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good. For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.” - Psalm 54:4-7.

David had a lot of enemies, and since he was such a powerful force in the military he could actually understand why he would, but quite often, his enemy turned out to be someone he was very close to. As he was hiding in a cave from Saul, he ponders why someone he knew, and in fact knew God himself, would turn on him as he did.

“Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.” - Psalm 55:11-14,21-23.

While we cannot always understand people, we can understand that God is with us and will bless us through our ordeal. As much as it hurts, we must trust God in every situation that He allows in our lives. I will never forget a pastor saying how God gives every one free will, and he does not want to be in someone else's free will to harm him or his family. We cannot predict what will happen while we are in someone else's will, not even our own, we too can turn if we do not keep our eyes on God. However, we can trust God, and keep our eyes on Him, after all, He is our only defense, and He will get the vengeance for us. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?” - Psalm 56:3-5.10-13.

This time as David was being chased by the Philistines, he fusses to God of his enemies, but then professes his trust in God, who is his refuge. “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.” - Psalm 57:1-3,7,9-11.

To try to understand the intent of someone who finds joy in trying to destroy another is beyond me. I will never understand their corrupt mind, and don't want to, but what I can understand is that God is with me, and He will give me the strength to let Him take care of it. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” - 1 Peter 1:3,4,21-23.

David knew all too well that the only person he could really trust was God, every time he turned around someone he trusted tried to destroy him, even kill him. A bit sorrowful and distraught he prays for God stop his wicked offenders. “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath. The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.” - Psalm 58:3-5,9-11.

We must face it, being a Christian does not exempt us from bullies, in fact, we are probably going to face more of them because we trust God. While it may seem counterproductive to be nice when all we want to do is hurt them, we must trust God, who is much bigger than our bullies. God will take care of them, but we must trust Him, and remember, no one is worth taking your own life to solve the problem. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:19-21.

Today's Prayer: God, It seems like every time I turn around someone is trying to make me feel bad about myself, and You know who that someone is. Lord, give me Your strength to walk away and not be intimidated by my enemy. Give me Your power, love, and grace, mend my heart, and give me hope and peace as I endure this pain. Lead me and guide me in Your will, and send some positive, God fearing people in my life so I can find encouragement in others. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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