Daily Power #156

“But the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” (Dan. 11:32 ESV)

When I stumbled home with Bo’s knuckle-prints on my face, my mom was horrified at the violence a bully could inflict on a person. My dad, on the other hand, reacted differently. Instead of consoling me as my mother had, he led me to the garage, which he proceeded to transform into a training facility that Rocky would envy. “Now I’m gonna teach you to fight. You’re gonna find this Bo punk and set things right.”

For the rest of the weekend, he taught me every trick he knew.

Mom was furious and told Dad, “You’re going to get our son hurt. Violence doesn’t solve anything!” My dad stood his ground, as calm and resolute as an army general. “You have to trust me, honey. Craig has to stand up to this bully. He needs to win this fight, and win it decisively. And he will.”

On my way to school Monday, I felt dizzy, my body drenched in nervous energy. Entering the school playground, I saw Bo, marched over, and proceeded to follow my father’s directions.

“If you ever touch me again, Bo, I . . . will . . . finish . . . what you started! Do you understand me?” It was hard to believe that was actually my voice.

Bo stared at me, then laughed and held up his open palms. “Uh . . . Okay, then. I didn’t really think you were gay anyway.”

And just like that, Bo and I became friends. But even if he’d knocked me down again, it wouldn’t have mattered because I had stood up to him. I had learned how to fight back.

If your spiritual enemy is trying to push you around, with God’s help you can stand your ground.

Power Lift

Lord, thank you for teaching me to fight through your power and not my own.