Devotions Inspired by the Fresh Start BibleSample

Let Me Handle This

By Bridgette Morris

Have you ever been wronged? Maybe someone talked badly about you behind your back. Maybe someone cheated you or stole from you. How are we as Christians supposed to respond? 

The Bible tells us in this Scripture: keep your heart true and right, and God will be your shield. 

It sounds simple but walking it out can be tricky. A few years back a friend told me that someone had said something hurtful about me to a number of people. I had a choice to defend myself or let God deal with the person and my reputation. I prayed about it and decided to let God be my shield in the situation and not pursue fixing anything on my own. 

I ended up never hearing anything else from that person, and what they said basically fell flat. After that situation, I actually had favor in the area I was slandered. I know that was the Lord’s favor due to me keeping my heart right. People will hurt us, and the Lord will redeem us if we keep our hearts right.     

Think about it, God didn’t say to keep your words right. You can easily grit your teeth and say, “Bless your heart.” Keeping your heart right, the place that only the Lord can see, is a true representation of your spiritual maturity. Keeping your heart right can only come from confidence and an understanding of God’s love, will, and control. 

If God’s going to be our shield we have to stay out of His way and let Him work it out. 

A few years ago, my son Parker found red paint in a closet of our house and spilled some of it on the carpet. He tried to “clean it up,” only rubbing it into the carpet and walls. If my sweet son had just come to me as soon as it happened and let me clean it up, it wouldn’t have made such a mess. God can clean up our messes much better than we can. He promises to be our shield if we keep our hearts right and true. 

Prayer

God, thank You for being my shield. Help me to keep my heart right and true even when I’m faced with difficult situations. I believe that You are my redeemer and protector, and I will continue to trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7–8