Dealing with the Bully by ACHUCKAllen
Prepared for our “First 30 Devotional Series” for College Freshmen
as a part of the Family Ministry at SUGARHILLChurch.
My favorite Bible story when I was a young was the story of David and Goliath. Remember the story? David was a young dude that had learned how to conquer scary things like lions and bears and giants. He wasn’t a bodybuilder or skilled soldier. He didn’t possess any supernatural, Superman skill sets or attributes. What he did have was a tangible and personal connection to the God of all Creation! He knew God. The One True God. He knew God and he knew God’s Word. Because of that knowledge and faith, he knew how to conquer his own fears. Here’s a great question – How did he do it? And the follow-up question – Can I do it as well?
The answer to the second question is ABSOLUTELY! The answer to the first question might take a few more words
He may have felt “Wow, Goliath, you are so big, nasty and strong, I could never take you out. Everybody is shaking in their boots just looking at you and so am I.” But he didn’t allow those thoughts to stay in his mind and he definitely didn’t speak them out. Instead:
This is what he said in 1st Samuel 17:45-47 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
David had a relationship with God and trusted what God said He would do for him. Then he looked at the situation from the perspective that he represented God’s kingdom and all that kingdom had was at his disposal. Then he activated his faith in God by speaking what he wanted to have happened. That gave him the courage to step out and conquer. To conquer the bully, he simply activated his faith and trusted God. This is where you come in – That same power, the same courage, and same faith is yours to activate!
What do you need to conquer today? Do you see that “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world”? Do you realize you have been given the name of Jesus and that His Word is a spiritual weapon that you activate with your faith and your words? Then take the next step – say what you want to see happen – and act on it – that is faith!
You have every single quality that David had. You are designed by God to be more than a conqueror. You don’t have to fear the bullies of this world. You can overcome because Jesus has already overcome! Claim that faith. Energize your faith. And you can speak as boldly as David did to his bully. Remember, he said to Goliath that he came in the name of God and he would defeat the big bad bully and cut his head off! That’s some energized faith right there!
Get your chin up. Poke your chest out. Claim and energize your faith. Trust the God within you to go ahead of you. Trust the God within you to deliver you peace, joy, fulfillment, and victory. And trust God to come behind you carry you through your days of despair and watch what He does with you and for you!
Go in Peace!
–AChuck