Don't Take it Personal
The Armor of God was a powerful blog series that helped us to understand how to face the enemy. If you have not read the series, I admonish you to go back and read it. It will bless your life.
After such a freeing series, we needed God to lead us in the right direction concerning the next blog post. We relied on Holy Spirit for direction, and we were led to go in the direction of Don’t Take It Personal.
Currently, emotions are at an all-time high, and our feelings are on high alert.
Anything you say can and will be used against you if taken in the wrong context. It is as if we are walking on eggshells.
Society has deemed it unlawful to express yourself without the fear of offending or disrespecting someone. If you verbalize the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, you are in danger of being canceled or ostracized. Even when having the right to remain silent, your silence is being questioned and that right is being taken away from you.
I was reading in Deuteronomy chapter 9, and Moses was reminding the Israelites of their journey out of Egypt and toward the Promised Land. I discovered that God became angry with His people because of their blatant disrespect or disregard for what He had done for them.
Instead of worshipping God, they built a golden calf and worshipped it. God was ready to destroy them for this act, but Moses interceded and reminded God of his promise to them.
“Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin.” Deuteronomy 9:27
The thing that stood out to me was the disrespect. I could feel how God felt after all he had done for them, and they then turned around and disrespected Him to his face.
He had every right to be angry and the punishment was justified, but mercy was given because of intercession.
I was immediately made aware of a wound that was still present in the body after reading this. When we are disrespected, our first thought is “Oh no they did not say/do that.”
How dare they show such a low regard for me?
We want to get even with them or strike them like they have just struck our feelings.
They did not hold me in high esteem, and I am going to give them a piece of my mind.
We want to vindicate or get justice immediately, but is that the way we should respond? We must stop and ask ourselves, Jesus, what would you do in this situation?
I believe, He would say start counting.
What does that have to do with me getting justice for my feelings? Let’s take a look.
“My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials." - James 1:2
The word trials means “Experience; suffering that puts strength, patience of faith to the test; afflictions or temptations that exercise and prove the graces or virtues of men.”
You must understand that you are being tried but the testing of your faith produces patience.
“but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” - James 1:4
Christ within you is greater than anything outside of you.
He is doing a greater work inside of you so that the glory of God can come through you. It is never about you, but about the work you will do through Him to draw others to Him.
When our feelings want to be vindicated, we must allow our faith to continue to work, knowing that justice will be served in due season.
I mentioned earlier that the disrespect was a wound. Christ came to heal us from anything that will keep us from serving him and spreading the gospel.
The trial is coming to heal that wound. The enemy is picking at the wound in hopes that you will continue to respond in your flesh.
“He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed.” - Isaiah 53:5
Christ has already been through this, and He can help you get through this.
The enemy is a heckler, and he will come at you with abusive words and behavior. Do not give into the wiles of the enemy. That’s why we must be fully covered with God’s armor.
Ephesians 6:13 says “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
It will help protect us from the fiery darts that he fires at us, and it will allow us to cut sin and those lies on the right and on the left.
We will be able to stand in truth and walk in perfect peace, knowing that we are covered and supported by Christ. Our minds are renewed and kept in perfect peace because we keep our thoughts on Him.
Just like Moses interceded for the people of Israel, Jesus does the same for us. Because of His mercy and compassion, we are not consumed.
We are to show that same mercy to those who come against us through disrespect. Jesus told us to pray for them and bless them, not to get even with them. Our feelings will get hurt, but our Savior is here to heal and help us through.
Every time you come off the cross to address the issues yourself, you are prolonging the resurrection.
Stay in your faith.
Stay fully covered with the armor of God.
Do not take it personally, take it to Jesus.
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