Jan 19 - Psalm 56:2-3

My slanderers

hound me constantly ...

But when I am afraid,

I put my trust in you.

Psalm 56:2-3

Do you remember the phrase, "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me"?

One, it's not really true. Words really do hurt, don't they?

Two, we as a society are more sensitive than we used to be.

Yes, things like political correctness train us to be thin-skinned. But it's more than that. We're thin-skinned because we're trained to base our identity -- more and more and more -- on what humans think.

Let's put that another way: Most of us have quit focusing on what God's Word says about us.

·       Slanderers say we're unlovable. God says we're loved.

·       Slanderers say we're unforgivable. God gave his Son to win our forgiveness.

·       Slanderers say we're not worthwhile. God says we're worthy.

·       Slanderers say we're imperfect. God says we're “a masterpiece.” ^{Eph 2:10 NLT}

·       Slanderers say we're forgettable. God says we're chosen.

·       Slanderers say we're “a mistake”. God says we're the purpose of His plan.

·       Slanderers say we're will never amount to anything. God says we're of infinite worth.

·       Slanderers say we're hapless victims. God says we're more than conquerers through him who loves us.

·       Slanderers say we're smudged and soiled and messy. God says we're washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. 

·       Slanderers say we're doomed. God says we have an amazing and eternal future.

Sticks and stones can't break our bones when we truly put our trust in God.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's wearing

the full armor of God

-- which protects

against words too

(Satan and the

world's lies)