Standing Up to the Bullies in Your Life - Girlfriends in God - June 29, 2017

June, 29, 2017
Standing Up to the Bullies in Your Life
Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all” (Isaiah 7:9b NIV).

Friend to Friend

Being from North Carolina, I love the old black-and-white Andy Griffith television programs. In one episode, the neighborhood bully is picking on Opie. This blond-headed newcomer taunts and makes fun of Opie until he feels as if he’s a total loser among the buddies he once enjoyed.

After Andy, the wise father, figures out what is disturbing his moping son, he gives him a little lesson in standing up to bullies. The next day, when the bully threatens Opie, the little freckle-faced boy looks his opponent in the eye and refuses to crumble under his threats.

“Do you want to fight?” the bully taunts.

Opie doesn’t say a word, just puts up his fists.

“Oh yeah, well knock this rock off my shoulder and I’ll—”

Opie knocks the rock off his shoulder before the bully has time to finish his sentence.

“Oh yeah, well step into this circle,” the bully continues as he draws a circle around himself in the dirt.

Opie steps into the circle.

Suddenly, the bully grows nervous. “You better be glad I’ve got on my good pants,” the bully says as he backs away.

Opie never had to throw the first punch. All he did was stand his ground and the enemy backed away. Bullies don’t like it when we stand up to them. Never have. Never will.

And it is the same way with the devil. He’s just a bully...daring you to stand up to him.

In Ephesians 6:11-14,Paul admonishes us to stand three times. “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…”

No one can stand for us. We have to stand on our own two feet and stand up against the enemy—and we stand on the Word of Truth.

The Lord said through the prophet Isaiah, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all” (Isaiah 7:9b). As the old songwriter penned, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

Paul wrote, “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ,” (2 Corinthians 1:21 NIV).

Maybe you’ve been running from the bully for way too long. He’s all bark and no bite. He’s a toothless cowardly lion. Go ahead. Take your stand.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, give me the courage to stand against the enemy today. I put on the armor of God: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sandals of the gospel of peace, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and the shield of faith. Thank You for the promise that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Use a Bible concordance and look up the word STAND in the New Testament letters. Those are the books of Romans through Revelation.

Write down what you learn about how to stand, when to stand, and on whom to stand.

More from the Girlfriends

One of the lies the enemy tells women is that they are less than men in every way: less valuable, less competent, and a whole host of other “less thans” that you’ve probably thought before. That, my friend, is one lie God longs for you to toss out of your mind. Jesus went to great lengths to prove just how important you are as a woman. Click here and watch the book trailer for How Jesus Broke the Rules to Set You Free- A Woman’s Walk in Power and Purpose. I think you’ll be blessed beyond measure! This book includes a Bible study guide in the back that will open your eyes to valuable truths about how God values women...about how God values you. And there is also an expanded Bible Study Guide for those who really want to dig deep into God’s Word.