No Room...

Don't you just love it when you're going through a certain situation in your life, & you really need some direction & encouragement, & someone sends you a devotional or inspirational story that speaks directly to what you're going through? I thank God that He talks to us in these ways. The following devotion by Dr. David Jeremiah was sent to me recently during such a time. Both Phoebe & I have been dealing with "bullies" for the past 3 weeks. It can be very draining & distract you from the work God has called you to do. I am thankful for the God given encouragement we have been given during this difficult time & I want to encourage others to not give into bullying & it's destructive force but to stand on the Word of God & be empowered by the Holy Spirit who gives us strength.

No Room for Bullies
For an overseer, as God's manager, must be blameless... not a bully....
Titus 1:7 (HCSB)

Recommended Reading
James 4:6-7

There's a long list of bullies in the Bible: The brothers who bedeviled Joseph, the Pharaoh who bullied Moses, those foreign invaders who threatened Judah, Haman who hated Mordecai, Jezebel who threw Elijah into fits, the Pharisees who tried to intimidate Jesus, and Alexander the coppersmith who did harm to Paul. Bullies can show up anywhere, even at home or church. At some point, we have to take a stand in the name of Christ and resist bullying.

Bullies don't always come in human form. The devil sends doubts, fears, and worries to browbeat us. James said that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us—as bullies usually do. Let's think of ourselves as children whose older brother stands at our side. Because of Him we are more than conquerors.

The Bible says, "Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul.... Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in His hands (Matthew 10:28, the Message).

"The fear of the Lord tends to take away all other fears... This is the secret of Christian courage and boldness." Sinclair B. Ferguson