This blog post on How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian teaches you the Biblical steps you need to take to overcome those opposing you.
How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian 1. Pray
The first thing you should do when you start to feel oppressed is to pray.
Therefore, pray and ask God to deal with the things that are oppressing you.
To pray more effectively over any situation, you have to use Bible verses since The sword of the spirit is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
Therefore combine your supplication prayers with anti oppression prayers which have been adapted from Scriptures like the following:
Heavenly Father I ask You in the name of Jesus to plead my cause O Lord with those who strive with me, fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler and stand up for my help. (Psalm 35:1-2)
Heavenly Father I ask You in the name of Jesus to make me like a fortified bronze wall so that these people fighting against me do not prevail because You are with me to save me and deliver me. (Jeremiah 15:20)
Heavenly Father I ask You in the name of Jesus to help me become more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves me. (Romans 8:37)
Heavenly Father I ask You in the name of Jesus to make me like a fortified bronze wall so that these people fighting against me do not prevail because You are with me to save me and deliver me. (Jeremiah 15:20)
Heavenly Father I ask You in the name of Jesus to help me become more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves me. (Romans 8:37)
Heavenly Father I ask You in the name of Jesus to perfect that which concerns me (Psalm 138:8) so that I stop being opposed.
As you say these prayers. ensure that you do not just pray for one day and then give up on praying because we are told to Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian 2. Have Faith
As you pray, believe that you will receive what you are asking for because we are told to Ask in faith (James 1:6)
Even if you think that your faith is weak or small, decide to believe that God will answer your prayers because Jesus taught us that faith that is as small as a mustard seed can move something that is as big as a mountain for He said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)
Even if you think that your faith is weak or small, decide to believe that God will answer your prayers because Jesus taught us that faith that is as small as a mustard seed can move something that is as big as a mountain for He said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)
Therefore, believe that your prayers will be answered and if you feel that your faith is wavering, pray "Lord I believe. Help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)
To learn more, read How To Increase Your Faith which uses examples from the Bible to teach you how to strengthen your faith in God.
How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian 3. Confess Your Sins
Confess your sins to God and ask Him to forgive you because it is written that The Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save you and His ear is not heavy that He cannot hear you. But your iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2) So confess your sins so that they can stop separating you from God.
How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian 4. Live Righteously
Ensure that you are also living a righteous life by doing the right things in the sight of God because it is written that The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16) So if you want your prayers to achieve a lot, pray fervently and live righteously.
How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian 5. Put On The Armor Of God
The Bible instructs us to, "Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the tricks of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11)
This armor of God consists of the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:14-17)
Since you have already put on the breastplate of righteousness by doing the right thing in the sight of God and you are holding the shield of faith by believing that God will answer your prayers, put on the rest of the armor of God by doing the following:
Put on the helmet of salvation by saying with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and believing with your heart that when He died for our sins, God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
Put on the belt of truth by being truthful in all your words and deeds.
Put on the shoes of the Gospel by reading your Bible every day.
Use the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17) by speaking Scriptures over your situation.
Putting on the Armor of God is very important when dealing with opposition because we can see that when Nehemiah and the Israelites faced opposition as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, Those who built on the wall and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. (Nehemiah 4:17-18)
Therefore, ensure that you have put on the spiritual armor of God as you do the physical work that is facing opposition.
Click on the link to learn more about How to Put on the Armor of God.
How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian 6. Speak To the Situation
Jesus taught us saying, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)
Therefore every morning and evening, speak to the things that are opposing you and tell them to leave your life. As you speak to them, believe that what you are saying will happen since you have to have faith as you speak to the mountain. (Matthew 17:20)
To make your words even more effective, speak Scriptures that we will call SWORD WORDS since The sword of the spirit is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:17) For example, you can declare over your situation:
The Lord God has made me like a fortified bronze wall so that these people fighting against will not prevail because He is with me to save me and deliver me. (Jeremiah 15:20)
In all these things I am more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves me. (Romans 8:37)
The Lord God is perfecting that which concerns me. (Psalm 138:8)
Go through your Bible to get more Scriptures to speak over your situation or get them from the book SWORD WORDS.
How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian 7. Fast
Jesus taught that some things have to be dealt with by combining prayer with fasting when He said, "This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:21)
Therefore combine your prayers with abstaining from food for 1 day or 3 days or 21 days or 40 days. If you have never fasted before you can begin by skipping 1 meal. If you have any medical condition or you are taking medication, consult your doctor first.
As you abstain from food, ensure that you are not engaging in pleasurable activities or taking advantage of people because when the Israelites asked God “Why have we fasted and You do not see? (Isaiah 58:3) He told them, “On the day you fast, you find pleasure and exploit your laborers.” (Isaiah 58:3)
To learn more read How to Fast Effectively which uses Bible examples to teach you the things you should do to ensure that you get great results when you fast.
How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian 8. Thank God
The Bible tells us Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Therefore, do not be anxious over anything. And, since you have made your requests known to God through prayer, thank Him so that His peace can guard your heart and mind.
Thank God for what He has done for you in the past and thank Him in faith for what you believe He will do for you in the future.
You can also thank God because of Who He is. For example, you can say, "I thank You Father God because You are Jehovah Nissi the Lord Our Banner (Exodus 17:115) and You will give me victory in this situation and guard my heart and mind with your peace which surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)"
To learn more read The Names and Characteristics of God.
How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian 9. Get More Help
Click on the links below and read more blog posts and books on opposition:
How to Deal with Opposition as a Christian 10. Do Something Physical
Do something physical to deal with the opposition.
The first physical thing that you should do is to emulate Nehemiah and continue doing the job that God has called you to do even under if you are being opposed.
The second physical thing that you should do is to ensure that you exercise for atleast 20 minutes each day since physical exercise releases endorphins which make you feel good.
The third physical thing that you should do is to make sure that you engage in a selfcare activity each day.
For example, you can engage in a physical selfcare activity like eating healthy comfort food like mashed sweet potatoes and stew.
You can engage in a mental selfcare activity like journaling about the things that are oppressing you.
You can engage in an emotional selfcare activity like diffusing relaxing essential like lavender and Roman chamomile essential oils because Ointment and perfume delight the heart. (Proverbs 27:9)
You can also engage in a spiritual selfcare activity like listening to Christian worship music.
Please share in the comments section how you deal with opposition as a Christian
