Sometimes when ministering to women, I ask the question, “Who has never been hurt by something someone has said to them?”  No one has ever raised a hand. All of us have been victims, at some time or other, of someone else’s abuse, gossip or hurting words. In fact, it is usually those who are closest to us, even family members, who hurt us the most. Words can be like arrows that pierce the soul to wound and destroy us. 

But let me tell you a secret. You don’t have to stay wounded. There is a way out. God has provided kingdom principles for us, which if we put them into operation, will work miracles for us. They will free us from hurt and bitterness and enable us to live in total victory.

What are these kingdom principles?

1. BECOME DEAF AND DUMB!

What? Yes, that’s what the Bible says. Read Psalm 38:12-15 MLB.

“They who seek my hurt talk mischief; they think up treacheries all day. But I am like a deaf man, who does not listen; like a dumb man, who does not open his mouth. Yes, I am like a man who does not hear and in whose mouth there are no arguments. For in Thee, Lord, I hope…”

a)    DEAF. Oh how curious we are to find out what people are saying against us. We want to track down every little morsel. However, when we know this is happening, we must become deaf and do not even try to find out. Can you master this challenge? What you don’t know, will save you from many hurts. Someone could be saying very nasty things about you, but if you don’t know about it, you can relate to them with love and freedom, which will pour coals of fire on their wickedness.

b)    DUMB. When we do hear accusations against us, we should act dumb, with no reproofs or arguments. This was Jesus’ example in the face of accusation and trial…

“But Jesus held his peace…” (Matthew 26:59-63)

“Jesus answered nothing… He answered never a word.” (Matthew 27:11-14)

“He opened not his mouth…” (Isaiah 53.7)

“When He was insulted, He did not answer back with an insult; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but placed His hopes in God.” (1 Peter 2:21-23)

2.  REJOICE AND LEAP FOR JOY!

“BLESSED are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  REJOICE YE IN THAT DAY, AND LEAP FOR JOY: for behold your reward is great in heaven…” (Matthew 5:11-12)

The literal meaning for “leap for joy” is to “jump, bound and spring.” Have you ever tried jumping and leaping when someone has said unkind and untrue things about you? Try it. It actually works. It bounces all the hurt out of you! Do I hear the floorboards shaking?

3.  LOVE!

“But I say unto you, love your enemies.” (Matthew 5:44)

One writer says, “If a little bit of love isn’t effective, increase the dose.” The remedy for the ineffectiveness of a little love is MORE LOVE. A Chinese saying says, “Don’t try to put out the fire of a load of hay with a cup of water!’” The more you have been hurt, the more love and forgiveness you’ll need to pour on! Sometimes you’ll have to pour on buckets!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh Lord, please help me to keep my mouth shut in the face of accusations. Take away all my arguments for I put my hope and trust in You.  I thank you that you are my vindicator. Amen.”

 

AFFIRMATION: 

I am deaf to hurtful words and dumb in the face of accusations.

 

We will continue with more kingdom principles next week…

2 Chronicles 35:26-27, “Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness (kindnesses), according to that which is written in the law of the Lord, and his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.” (2 Chronicles 32:32)

What a wonderful obituary over the life of Josiah. Josiah was a mighty king of Judah. He was a radical reformist. He spearheaded the greatest purging revival against evil in the land of Israel. He instigated the best Passover feast that was ever held from the time of Samuel. But the first thing the inspired Word of God records over his life is “his kindnesses.” This attribute meant more to God than all his mighty acts.

The Hebrew word is “chesed”, one of the most beautiful words in the Old Testament. It means, “kindness, grace, mercy, beauty and unfailing love.” It is the same word that is used of God’s lovingkindnesses. It also involves forgiveness and is the closest word to “charis”, the New Testament word for grace.

Each Friday evening that we are home, we love to celebrate a Shabbat meal and invite different friends and family to enjoy this precious time with us. At this meal, the husband reads Proverbs 31 and blesses his wife and children. As we sat at our table last Shabbat and each husband eulogized his wife, I was touched by the testimony of one couple. He held his wife’s hand and shared many beautiful things about her, but the preeminent attribute he declared over her life was “her kindness.” “Oh she is so very kind,” he exclaimed. “She is so kind to me, to our children, and even to her animals.”

What a beautiful testimony to be spoken over us at the end of our lives. But how more powerful if it could be a daily testimony. Can we allow our kind and loving God to pour out His kindnesses through us? Our God is not only kind, but abundantly kind. God’s kindness is always recorded with an adjective.

Exodus 34:6 “Abundant in kindness.”

Nehemiah 9:17, “Thou art a God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.”

Psalm 31:21, “Blessed be the Lord: for he hath showed me His marvelous kindness.” (Psalm 17:7)

Psalm 36:7, “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God.”

Psalm 69:16, “Thy lovingkindness is good.”

Psalm 119:76, “Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort.”

Isaiah 54:8, “With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.”

 

It is not enough to be kind. It is not enough to do kind things. We must also speak kind words. The testimony of the Above Rubies woman in Proverbs 31:26 is that “She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” This is the same Hebrew word, “chesed”. It is not enough to speak kind words sometimes, or when everyone is being nice to us. It is not enough to speak kindly to people at church on Sunday. Kind words should flow from our lips in the midst of our home, to those who are closest to us - our husband and children.  It is a law in the depths of our being. It is part of our lives and therefore pours out from our lips, even when people speak unkindly to us.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh God, I confess to you the unkind words I have said to my husband. Please forgive me. Forgive me for the many unkind words I have spoken about people. Oh kind and loving God, I need to be more kind. I long to be saturated in your kindness. Please fill me with your lovingkindess so that I can pour it out to others. Anoint me to speak kind words, first to those in my home, and then to those around me. Amen.”

 

         AFFIRMATION:         

Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.”

Dear sweet mother, why do you cry?

Don’t you know that your God is nigh?

He is closer to you than your very breath,

He will never forsake you, not even in death.

He created you for His joy and pleasure

And has chosen you as a special treasure.

He has graven your name on His very own palm,

He’ll come to your aid with His mighty right arm.

He is your Source, He will fill your cup,

When you are down, He will lift you up.

You don’t have to stay sad, for He is your Joy,

He’ll help you conquer those things that annoy.

God has given you children, which are your glory

To enrich your life and help write your story.

You’re in God’s perfect will, this is your calling,

He’ll help you each day and keep you from falling.

You can’t do it alone, your strength is weak,

Trust in the Lord and things won’t seem so bleak.

Look to the Lord, not the problems you face,

You’ll be amazed how He will give you His grace.

A joyful mother is what He wants you to be,

Filling your home with gladness and glee,

Counting your blessings and praising the Lord

For His daily mercies and love out-poured.

Psalm 30:5, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

 

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh Lord, I thank you that you know when my heart is broken and that you feel my pain. I thank you that you have promised to come close to me in these times. I thank you for your nearness and comfort. Amen.”’

AFFIRMATION:

2 Timothy 4:18, “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen!” Read also 2 Peter 2:9.

 

7. Psalm 119:116, “Uphold me according to your word, that I may live.”

God’s Word is able to hold you up. When you feel as though you are sinking, resort to the Word. It will bear you up. It will bear you up above your circumstances. Oh yes, you’ll still face them each day, but you will walk in the power of God’s Word that will carry you above the difficulties.

8. Psalm 119:170, “Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your word.”

God is a God of deliverance. He has promised to deliver us when we cry out to Him. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Psalm 22:5) 

There is no pit too deep, there is no problem too big and there is no predicament too difficult from which God cannot deliver you! Are you bound by fears, anger, self-pity or negative habits? God does not want you to live in this state. He is waiting to deliver you. Cry out to Him and use the power of His Word.

What about fears? David confessed in Psalm 34:4, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” You don’t have to live with one fear! Find antidote Scriptures about fear. Memorize them. Confess them out loud constantly. Use them against the enemy every time fear begins to take hold. Here are some examples -- 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:5-6; Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Psalm 91 and Isaiah 41:11,13.

Do you have a problem with spouting out angry words?  Fill your mind and heart with Scriptures like these -- Matthew 5:44; Ephesians 4:1-2,32; Colossians 3:12-13; Leviticus 19:18; Psalm 119:165; Proverbs 15:1; 16:24 and 31:26. Whenever you feel anger rising up, speak one of the Scriptures out loud.

Are you in the habit of always complaining? Check out these Scriptures -- Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 2:14-15; Colossians 2:7c; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Proverbs 17:22 and Psalm 34:1; 35:28; 44:8 and 71:8.  Memorize them so that you can quote them out loud every time you start to grumble and moan.

I think that one of the worst habits that we tend to fall into is selfishness! It is easy to make a life-style of this habit but it destroys marriage and family life. If you tend towards this one, check out these Scriptures -- 1 Corinthians 10:24,33; 13:5; 2 Corinthians 5:15 and Philippians 2:3-4; 6-8.

What about evil or immoral thoughts? Oh yes, you can be delivered from these as you wield the sword of the Word of the Lord. Every time an evil thought enters your mind, don’t receive it. Don’t dwell on it. Instead quote the Word of God, even as Jesus did when Satan came to tempt him. This was Jesus’ way to overcome the enemy. It’s your way too. Start the new habit of saying, “It is written…” (Matthew 4:1-11 -- Philippians 4:8; James 4:7)

God’s powerful, living words are able to deliver you from your habits. A habit is “a tendency to act constantly in a certain manner.” God’s Word can help you change that tendency to a different tendency. Thomas A Kempis said, “Habit is overcome by habit.” I have also read that it takes about three weeks to change a habit with another habit.

What negative habit do you want to be rid of in your life? Here’s an answer. Search for the antidote Scriptures. Memorize them. Each time you start to get in the groove of your habitual tendency, stop, and recite the appropriate Scriptures OUT LOUD! I am sure that if you will do this for at least three weeks, you will be delivered. You will begin walking in a new and positive habit instead of the negative one.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh God, I thank you that you sent your only Son to die, to deliver me from my sin, from my habits and from my selfishness. I thank you that you have also given me your Word to change me and deliver me. Help me, Lord, to live in the power of your life-changing Word, which is able to deliver me. Thank you. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION: