The Day When God Defended My Honor

“Prayer is the safest method of replying to words of hatred.” – C. H. Spurgeon

I remember all too well my second campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. Having won the Republican primary in 2008 and receiving more votes in the general election than any GOP candidate in my district in 35 years, I was asked by the county chairman to run again in 2010. After initially turning him down because of the time, cost, and energy required, I finally gave in and agreed to give it one more try. However, what I wasn’t counting on was a smear campaign by another Republican candidate who desperately wanted the party’s nomination for herself.

Spending $40,000 of her own money, she launched a direct mail campaign full of lies and innuendoes attacking my character. Because I was busy raising money for my prison ministry – and wanted to save whatever campaign monies I had for the general election – I decided not to retaliate. Instead, I just let God handle the matter and the good people of South Jersey to decide who and what to believe.

Well, once the primary results were tabulated, I had defeated my opponent by a 2-to-1 margin. God had answered my prayers and defended my honor!

These days, I am facing an all-too-similar situation involving a couple of my siblings who disagree with some of my decisions regarding my mother’s care. Despite the fact that my mom’s mental and physical condition have improved dramatically since I took over as her medical POA, I have been constantly criticized, second-guessed, and spoken ill of. Truth be told, it hurts and hurts very deeply. But I am convinced that my decisions – all of which were bathed in prayer – have been in my mom’s best interests. And, as I said before, the “proof is in the pudding” because she is absolutely flourishing.

Here is some more advice from Charles Spurgeon about how best to handle “words of hatred”…

“Fervent prayer,” says an old divine, “like a cannon planted at the gates of heaven, makes them fly open.” The common fault with most of us is our readiness to yield to distractions. Our thoughts go roving here and there, and we make little progress toward our desired end. Like quicksilver our mind will not hold together but rolls off this way and that. How great an evil this is! It injures us, and what is worse, it insults our God. What should we think of a petitioner if, while having an audience with a prince, he should be playing with a feather or catching a fly?

Prayer must not be our intermittent work but our daily business, our habit and vocation.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:6-7 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President