Deep thought of the day… When you clean out a vacuum cleaner, you become a vacuum cleaner.
“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean…” Ezekiel 36:25a (NLT)
Do you ever just feel attacked? Sometimes it can seem relentless! I think it’s high time that we just get fed up with being attacked and start doing something about it! Previously, I wrote a post for scriptures to help when you feel attacked or persecuted. These scriptures are helpful and comforting to let us know that we’re not alone, that God is our avenger, and that we will be blessed and graced when enduring persecution. Today I’d like to go on the offensive a little more. I’d like to give you a prayer that you can pray when you feel like you’re being verbally attacked by people.
I do believe there is a time and a place to endure attacks, but I also firmly believe that God never intended for us to be doormats to be walked on by people. When we’re being verbally attacked, there ARE times when it’s okay to fight back…just not always in the way your natural instincts might want to! 😉 It’s okay to go to war. We don’t have to hide until Jesus comes. Nor do we have to be wimpy, spineless, victimized Christians! We don’t always need to head for cover when we’re verbally attacked by people.
We need to be fighters and warriors!
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
During a Bible study in college, it was brought to my attention that we have nothing on our back with this armor. In warfare we are meant to stand, face it, and fight–NOT turn our backs and run away.
Some attacks have to be faced head-on.
What do you do when people offend you, insult you, treat you badly, or persecute you? I’ve had some practice working on this unfortunately. I’m sure I’m not the only one, so this post will discuss some of my experience in dealing with offense and responding to others.
Previously I mentioned that I was getting an increasing number of negative comments on my blog posts. Some were from well-meaning Christians who felt the need to correct me. Others were from people of a differing religious belief system who wanted to argue and debate over doctrinal issues. Some were from people, Christian or not, that just intensely disagreed with things that I said (and not always in the nicest way). Frequently I get a bit lambasted on Pinterest with comments from atheists, specifically about a post on “How to Pray for Unsaved Loved Ones”. I guess you could call it a persecution of sorts.
Apparently some of them are taking offense that I, as well as others who are pinning these prayers, might be praying for them, and they want me to stop. Well guess what? Not gonna happen. 🙂 And now, since they were so kind as to leave me a comment and give me their name, I can pray for them more specifically. By name. Which, by the way, I wasn’t doing before because I didn’t even know them. 🙂 They can’t really stop me from praying can they? I know…I’m such a rebel. The problem that I’ve been struggling with though when I get offended by their comments is wanting to reply to them.
These commenters have written things that are critical and insulting. They say things and make accusations that aren’t true. Often, they take things I say and twist or misconstrue them. They definitely appear to be in “attack” mode. My first gut reaction is that I’m extremely offended. I feel very angry because I feel a sense of injustice. I deeply want to want to argue with their comments. It takes an awful lot of restraint not to say anything. Instead of arguing and fighting back, I’ve had to learn to hold my tongue and fight back with prayer.
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.” Galatians 6:1-5 (NKJV) [emphasis added]
Recently the topic of burdens and loads has come up in various settings as I’ve talked with people in my small group, friends, family, etc. Through some of our discussions, we’ve had conversations about the difference between burdens and loads. We’re told in Galatians 6 to bear one another’s burdens, but we’re also told to bear or carry our own load. So what’s the difference? Is this a contradiction?
There is a difference between the two. It’s not contradictory to say “help others” on one hand and then “carry your own” on the other hand. Fortunately, I’ve actually sat under some helpful teaching and have done some study on this topic. Since it’s resurfaced in recent conversations, I thought it would be a good topic to write about and share what I’ve learned.
I think it would be good to start here by defining the difference between burdens and loads. Let’s look at the scriptural context here by going back to the original language.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)
The word for “burdens” here is “baros” in the Greek language. This word was used to describe a heaviness, weight, or trouble throughout biblical text. In Strong’s definition (G922)[1] it’s defined as something that’s abundant or a burdensome weight. It carries the notion of going down or sinking. An analogy here might be a ship that is carrying so much excess cargo that it’s causing the ship to sink under the weight of it.
So by this definition, to bear another’s burden is to take some of the weight off so that they’re not “sinking” anymore. We would relieve them of some of the heaviness that they are carrying. By doing this, we are helping them with something that they cannot do on their own or do for themselves. It would include those who are weighed down with too much and need help. Burdens cannot be carried alone.
We all have burdens, but God does not intend for us to carry them alone.
“But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.” Galatians 6:4-5 (NKJV)
The word for “load” here is different than the one used for “burden” in verse 2. The Greek word used here is “phortion”. This word as described by Strong’s definition (G5413)[2] is an invoice (as part of a freight), a task, or a service. It would be something carried, as in the cargo or freight of a ship. Another example of a load is a responsibility.
Loads are an individual and independent responsibility and can be carried alone. We shouldn’t expect others to carry our “load”. Some things can and should be carried on our own.
I love how Sarah Geringer describes loads…
“We are responsible to carry our own loads, but not the loads that rightfully belong to others. It’s also not right to permit someone else to carry the load that belongs to you. Able-bodied and able-minded people are fully responsible to carry their own mental, physical, emotional, relational, vocational, and spiritual loads. That’s God’s design, both for our protection and enjoyment. …The load God assigns to you is just right for you, not too light or too heavy.”[3]
You can differentiate an alligator from a crocodile by paying attention to whether the animal sees you later or in a while.
“the gecko, the crocodile, the lizard, the sand reptile, and the chameleon.” Leviticus 11:30 (AMP)
Mr. Rogers did not adequately prepare me for the people in my neighborhood.
“Beware of your neighbor! …” Jeremiah 9:4a (NLT)
Last week I shared some scriptures about the Lord is my strength. This week I’d like to share a prayer for strength. When we need strength or need strength renewed, we need to look to the Lord. Prayer is extremely powerful and produces results (James 5:16)! This prayer based on scriptures (listed below) will help us to rely on the Lord’s support and remind us that God will supply and renew our strength in times of need.
Here is a prayer for strength that you can pray:
Lord, I am in need of strength right now. I know that you are my strength and will help me in times of trouble and need and will teach me how to fight. You are the one who gives us strength. Strengthen me and supply me with the energy I need to face anything set before me. Please let your presence strengthen, encourage, restore, and support me. Hold me up and place me on a firm foundation. When I am tested, please give me the strength to endure it.
Empower me with inner strength and give me mental strength and ability. Give me the power and strength needed when I am weak and powerless. Renew my strength when I grow weary, tired, and exhausted. Help me not to rely on my own strength and attempt to do everything myself. Instead, help me to look to you for support. Help me to remember that when I am weak, you are strong and that I have access to your strength and power that will work through me.
Remind me that your power will give me the endurance, patience, and joy I need. I can be strong and courageous when I hope in you and give my cares, anxieties, and burdens to you. You will go before me and you will not fail me nor abandon me. You will guard me from evil. Help me to remember that you are faithful and that in quietness and confidence is my strength. Because of you, Lord, I will go from strength to strength, increasing in victorious power.
There are times in every Christian’s life when we feel weak, lacking strength, overwhelmed, tired, and/or depleted. We tend to exhaust everything we know to do in our own power. Therein lies the problem…“our own power”. We often try to do life on our own and don’t rely on God enough. There comes a point when our own efforts are not sufficient, and our own strength becomes exhausted. God wants us to know that and be confident to proclaim that “GOD IS MY STRENGTH”.
Some battles and things we face in life were never meant to be faced on our own. We NEVER win a spiritual battle with natural strength.
“…be strong IN THE LORD and IN HIS mighty power…” Ephesians 6:10 (NIV) emphasis mine
There are scriptures that will remind us that we don’t need to rely on our own strength and attempt to do everything ourselves. Instead, we need to look to God for support. (See also this prayer for strength.)
When we need strength, or need strength renewed, we need to look to the Lord. These scriptures will remind us that God will supply and renew our strength in times of need. In fact, he IS our strength!
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