Bullying

Have I ever mentioned that bullying is my pet peeve? The term pet peeve doesn’t even do it justice. Back when I was a kid, my pet peeve was empty ice trays. Now, I’m destined to a life of being married to an iceman and never having ice in my freezer. First of all, I’m forbidden to have evil ice trays or in today’s terms an evil ice maker in the frig door. (sorta kidding) Second of all, the plumbers plumbing never gets done, the mechanic’s car is on the brink, etc. You catch my drift?

Bullying is more than my pet peeve, it’s mean, ugly and I have 0% tolerance. My knee jerk reaction is outrage. I catch myself thinking, ‘If that was my kid being treated that way then I’d…blank…blankity…blank!’ We do want to shield our children from bullying and immorality. But, can we? Won’t we crash into it in some alternate way, shape or form?

We could remove them from the threat at school, then what about the neighborhood, the park or pool, TV, then again, (I have some doosy whopper relatives) what about family get togethers? And what about church? Does lack of character and immorality happen at church? It does if your reaching out to the lost and broken…it gets messy.

What should we do? Lord, teach us to teach them to be an arrow—straight and true. Young warriors who don’t fight back in the physical—but, in the spiritual. I pray that we won’t wait till these kids get old enough before they learn to minister and come to realize their gifts—let it begin now. Lord, give us an uncanny ability to recognize their spiritual gifts. God, put these arrows in the hands of warrior parents and let them fly.

For starters...if someone you know is getting picked on:

1. Recognize: 'Who' is the problem? Eph. 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Our enemy is satan and his demons and they desire to kill, steal and destroy. They are no respector of persons.
2. React: Take authority and speak to your enemy, not the bully. Jesus is our example, "Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!" Matthew 16:23 In my opinion, Jesus was not calling Peter names...'You are satan, nanny nanny boo boo!' No, I think he fought in the spiritual. He spoke to mean and ugly spirits on a regular basis.
3. Respond: Follow through with the Word. Obey! A few?...pray for you enemies, do good to them, give them something to eat, to drink, kill them with kindness, turn the other cheek.
4. Rest: Wait for Him to repay evil for evil, to come to your rescue and to watch His word until completion. He's faithful!