“Put ‘em up, put ‘em up! Go ahead! I’ll fight ‘cha with my eyes closed! I’ll fight ‘cha with one hand tied behind my back….” Words from The Cowardly Lion, Wizard of Oz
My flash temper strikes again! Normally I’m non-combative, but really…don’t mess with my loved ones! Don’t bad mouth them or run them down! Because I’ll fight ‘cha! Put up yer dukes!
When there is a physical enemy…
Many years ago, I had multiple run-ins with a person in my life who would verbally trod all over my loved ones. Not only that, she would tell lies about them! Absolute lies! I would confront her and try to set the record straight, to no avail. She believed that her words were truth. I felt like I was fighting against the father of lies himself!
John 8:44 “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
It was a frustrating situation, one that I could never win. What’s a girl to do? I can’t let this person verbally beat up on my family!
God’s word says: Don’t be afraid, you won’t need to fight. The battle is not yours, but God’s. Stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, the Lord is with you. (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)
The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent. (Ex 14:14)
What? Keep silent, stand still and watch? Don’t DO anything? Don’t defend my peeps? Don’t knock the poop out of the aggravator?? I’m in fighting mode….put ‘em up, right now! I’ll fight ‘cha!
Instead, I shut up. I listen to God and His word. And (horrors, gasp) I pray for this person! This is what I am seeing:
The Lord continues to fight this battle for me. Slowly (in God’s timing), I see the tide turning. I see that the lies are being exposed to TRUTH. I didn’t have to say a word, because the Lord fights those who fight me (Isaiah 49:25).
[tweetthis]Will you fight a loosing battle? Or will you allow God to fight for you, and win the war?[/tweetthis]
When the battles are within…
“I know what he’s thinking. I can tell by the look on his face. He’s mad a me! For no reason! I haven’t done anything wrong! I’m mad that he’s mad at me.”
“She looked at me funny. She’s probably thinking I don’t do anything around here. The nerve of her! How dare she think that! She has no idea what is going on in my life!”
I was boxing air, fighting mental battles based upon perceptions I had. They may or may not have been true. I was ready, in my mind, to fight! Put ‘em up, put ‘em up! I was expending precious energy shadow boxing…no one. NO ONE. There was no one arguing with me. There was no point to be made to thin air. I was ready to skirmish based on my thoughts. Only my thoughts. Only one side of the story. Ever been there? It is not a sweet place to be.
That’s when it’s time to do some mental maintenance.
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
Take those thoughts captive and ask: Is this truth? Or is it just MY perception of truth? If I’m totally honest, I don’t like the answer to these questions. But they must be asked. When I take those thoughts captive to the OBEDIENCE of Christ, when I look at truth and not perceptions, then the battle in my mind can stop.
It isn’t cowardly when you don’t fight. Sometimes it’s the only way to live free. Sometimes it’s the only way to win.
Until next week,
Linking up today with these lovely writers:
Suzie Eller’s Live Free Thursday
Susan at Dance with Jesus
Barbie at The Weekend Brew
Kelly at Purposeful Faith
Holly at Testimony Tuesday
Holly at Coffee for Your Heart
Jennifer at Tell His Story
