Stop and Wrestle

Victoria Boyson

"Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are." Proverbs 26:4. NLT

When we argue with fools (those who are blind to the truth) we end up looking like fools; truly we make ourselves the greater fool. For, who is more foolish, the one who thinks he sees or the one who truly sees, yet lets himself get stuck in an enemy ambush?
The argument of fools is a trap. It is far too easy to fall into when someone reaches your personal point of contention or they've tipped your sacred cow. You may be reasonable about most everything, but what is the issue that makes your blood boil? What turns you into a fool?
How easy it is to forget the battle we face is not of this world. Indeed, we are in a battle everyday with unseen forces who will take advantage of any person or situation. Our battle is not a battle of this world, but for the world. It doesn't matter what's coming against you, the answer is the same - it is truly a supernatural battle. I feel it growing everyday in the church...an anger that matches the world's.
Are we letting the world set the agenda for us? Are we to mirror the world's hostility, or display the love of Christ? For, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" John 13:35.

Earthquakes in our Lives

22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (Acts 16:22-34)
Paul and Silas were in the inner parts of the prison singing and praising God, despite the fact that they were stripped, beaten and feet placed in stocks. Praise causes the glory of God to manifest in your life.

An earthquake came and shook the foundations of the prison.The doors opened and the chains fell off the prisoners.You would think that the prisoners would leave but God had a different plan.God wanted to get to the jailer.

Protected by Love

"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven. - Matthew 5:44-45"

Love your enemies...turn the other cheek...to most people that sounds like a pretty weak way to handle someone who's causing them trouble. But, the truth is, it's the most powerful way there is. It's the way Jesus did it—and His way never fails.
Do you remember when Jesus went back to Nazareth and the religious folks were angry with Him and wanted to push Him off a cliff? What happened? He just walked right past them, and no one could lay a finger on Him. Another time they decided to stone Him, and He didn't retaliate that time either. He just walked off. No one could touch Him.
When Jesus walked through that crowd, He wasn't afraid. He knew they couldn't hurt Him because He was walking in the love of God.
When Jesus said to turn the other cheek, He didn't mean for you to stand there and have your brains beaten out. He meant for you to stand there in love and in faith believing that the protecting power of God that accompanies that love would keep you safe. He meant for a man to swing at you and not be able to hit you!