Just a Thought: How can I protect myself from getting caught up in a spirit of revenge? It is all a matter of focus. No one is denying bad things happen. No one is saying people don’t do us wrong from time to time. No one is suggesting that we ignore these things or pretend they don’t happen. But what we focus on is what we do. So, if I allow myself to focus on all the bad things people say about me or do to me, I will stay in misery. So, I have to focus on the right things in order to keep my head up and feet moving. We have to do what the prophet Jeremiah did. Jeremiah had many wrongs done to him. The leaders of Judah said terrible things about him. They had plotted against him. They had mocked him. Jeremiah is my favorite Bible character probably because of his perseverance. He was faithful to the Lord. He preached and yet there are no recorded converts from his ministry. Though he continued to stay faithful to the Lord and the ministry, he was rejected for all intents and purposes. He was personally and ministerially rejected. But this was his focus in spite of all of this. “O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life. You have seen, O Lord, the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!” (Lam 3:58-59) Rather than focus on all the negative things people were doing and saying about him, he focused on the Lord. He reminded the Lord and himself, “God’s got this.” He focused on knowing He was in the Lord’s hands, and the Lord would handle his enemies. He kept his focus on the Lord and not on his enemies. He kept his mind stayed on God. He didn’t ignore what was happening. He didn’t try to pretend it wasn’t happening. He just didn’t get caught up in focusing on what was happening or who was doing it. He chose to believe, as we should, that the Lord would take care of him and them. And the Lord would and could make all things right in His way and in His time. How can I protect myself from getting caught up in a spirit of revenge? We have to do like Jeremiah and keep our minds and focus on the Lord and His care for us despite all else. Bad things are going to happen to us, but so are good things. People are going to say ugly things. But some people are going to say encouraging things. Not everyone is going to like who you are or what you do especially if you are living for the Lord. But some lives will be changed because of your faithfulness. So, choose today to focus on the care of the Lord for you and trust He will also take care of the other things. Do this and you can protect yourself from a spirit of revenge. And instead you will fill your heart with God’s peace and joy as you rest in the knowledge the Lord will take care of you!
