Pay No Attention!

"Listen now, you who know right from wrong, you who hold my teaching inside you: Pay no attention to insults, and when mocked don't let it get you down.  Those insults and mockeries are moth-eaten, from brains that are termite-ridden, But my setting-things-right lasts, my salvation goes on and on and on.

Isaiah 51:7-8 Msg.

Is there someone in your life who is just not nice?  Do you often deal with people who regularly put you down, insult you and mock you?  Let's face it there are mean people in this world!  Most of them are just out to make you miserable because they themselves are miserable.  I bet most of the time there isn't anything you have done to deserve their harsh ridicule.  We have talked often about how hurt people, hurt people, but today I want to remind you that the things people say, no matter how mean and hurtful they are, are just words.  Yes words sting, they can cause death and in many cases words destroy people's self esteem.  This scripture is reminding all who know God's character and hold His promises deep in their heart, that they should pay no attention to mean people.  Their words come from brains that are termite ridden, damaged and with missing pieces.  The people who are insulting you and mocking you don't understand how much they are really loved.  They most likely haven't excepted God's unconditional love and mercy in their own life and therefore cannot offer it to others. They haven't got God's word on their heart, or they have let the world in to destroy the things they once knew as truth.  And most importantly they don't realize that their fight is not with flesh but against the dark rulers of this world.  They direct their hurt and anger on people instead of directing it towards satan, the one who is always to blame.  Instead of armoring up for God's army they choose to join the enemy and begin using his tactics and weapons of war, mean words, lying, cheating, stealing, coercion, blaming, and the list goes on.  The next time you are hit with some unkind words remember that God doesn't want you fretting about those lies.  Instead, remember where they come from and stand tall against them.  Trust what you know about God's love for you and His promises of hope, forgiveness, and provision in your life.  God is there and will always have the last say.  He will defend you and set things right in His perfect time.  Don't give satan the satisfaction of disrupting your day.