Have you ever known someone who was determined to vilify you? No matter what you said or did, somehow your words or actions were twisted in their mind so that you ended up being the bad guy.
So what can you do when this happens? You can bless such individuals and forgive them, but in the end that may not change them. The important thing is to not wear yourself out trying to please them. Make a decision to not spend your emotional and spiritual capital on humans who insist on being cosmic black holes in your life. Such people are often planted by the devil to “wear out the saints.”
One characteristic of such people is unresolved anger. Years ago I heard the masterful Rick Renner talk about the words “anger” and “wrath” in the Bible. In Hebrew the word for wrath, chemah, speaks of heat and poison and is often connected to the idea of a fever. It is like a state of mind that makes one delirious and not thinking straight. Likewise the idea behind the word for wrath in the New Testament, speaks of an excited mind reaching forth to some kind of act of vengeance. It’s as if the word “wrath” frequently speaks of a state of mind that causes you to perceive reality in a distorted way.
Remember that “the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20) It is impossible to think clearly when anger is your lens.
To be sure, some can be won by your witness. What I want to focus on here is making sure you don’t wear yourself down trying to win those you can’t win; those the devil plants to simply mess with your head.
I heard a story once of two ministers who were engaged in a cat-fight years ago and went to Lester Sumrall to mediate. The wise elder Lester counseled the younger man, “You will never win the war of words with the Reverend, but you can out-fruit him!”
That’s good advice. If you can’t capture their good will and support or they are committed to misunderstand you, out-fruit them! Perhaps you won’t win a particular debate or convince someone to accept a truth, but you can focus on pouring into your people, loving your family, and winning souls and nations for the kingdom of God.
Focus on what will have a lasting impact!
How very timely for me…probably for many of us. Great message, Lance. ♥
I just saw a similar tweet by Jonathon Shuttlesworth
Confirmation.
“those the devil plants to simply mess with your head” – this statement is true, and transcends to the physical. I recently had an episode with one such individual and had to resist the dark thoughts of retaliation in defence of myself which brought on a splitting headache. I started to sing worship songs and declare the righteousness of Christ in me, and know what? The headaches went away. God wins!
So true. Months ago I was stewing, trying to solve the world’s problems with anger in my mind, and that same scripture came to me: “The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” While driving along, I thought this, and said, “I know it doesn’t DO anything, but it feels like I’m doing something by burning mental rubber!” Then I passed a movie theater and on the marquee it said “The Wrath of Man”. I have no idea what that movie was about, but God spoke through that sign!
Thanks Lance!
Good word in time for Holiday gatherings. So often those pesky “black holes” are related to you in some fashion. So you can’t just dismiss them. They come to your house for Christmas every year. Jesus was so spot in Mark 6:4 “But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”
First thing- I go to God to forgive all my sins & to strengthen my weaknesses. After that I bless those who against me, and completely forgive them. Perfect peace from God flowed in my heart and soul..
LANCE, one of the things I Appreciate Most about You is your gift of explaining-teaching in a way that is understandable to all ages…David Wilkerson had that gift—and I learned so much from him….He is so missed.
Thank You for all the precious time and love you give—not only to the Body of Christ—but to anyone who will “stop” and read or listen to your messages.
Lance, I have followed your ministry for some time and am thankful for the wisdom you bring to America and the Church during these difficult but transforming days we are in. I am one of your GETTR followers ,though I used to follow you on Fb until I left, because no one was seeing my post. I have a greater following on gettr than I ever did on fb and i try and push your stuff out everytime i see it. God bless you and yours and Have a Blessed and Happy Christmas.
Thank you for your wisdom!! I do appreciate you & your team!! I pray you all have a great Christmas and New Year!