In the last post, I invited you to join my mind meanderings on encouragement vs flattery. But not all messages, spoken or unspoken, are uplifting or even carry the appearance of being positive. Sometimes they’re harsh and accusatory. 

What happens when false accusations start to fly? Do we fly off the handle in return? Do we stand up for ourselves and spout off all the reasons why the accusations are false or misleading? Do we set ourselves against the person that’s bringing them, even if it’s just in our hearts?  

This is SO HARD, especially when they come from someone close to us, and happens more often than we like to think. So what do we do? 

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 
 

This is a spiritual battle. False accusations are designed to distract, derail, and destroy whatever that thing God is doing in and through us. Don’t fall for it. I repeat. DO NOT TAKE THE BAIT! Oh, it’s tempting. Our emotions and sense of personal justice kick in (understandably so!), but it is SO IMPORTANT to NOT TAKE THE BAIT. It’s a trap that’s out to destroy each one of us. Is it coming through a person? Of course! I mean, it wouldn’t come through a cat! Why does this happen? Lots of reasons! Maybe there are underlying wounds, fears, and insecurities or just plain old assumptions and flesh driving the false accusations. Who knows. Well, God knows, but do we? Not really. But maybe God will give us a glimpse in the form of a prophetic insight that we can use to move in the opposite spirit—intercession. 

There are two that testify about our lives, which we find in the Bible. Romans 8:34b says, “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us,” and Revelation 12:10 says, “For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night….” Two voices from two very different sources. One is Jesus, the other is definitely not. And as false accusations fly around in this realm through our fellow human beings, we can stand assured that the voice is NOT Jesus. Jesus does NOT condemn or accuse us. Convict, maybe, but never accuse. Accusations, especially false accusations have one source—the enemy. But, I digress. I was about to launch into the opposite—intercession. 

For every accusation that the enemy brings, Jesus has an intercession. He intercepts those accusations and can turn them into works of His glory IF we allow HIM to vindicate us. This is a promise in His Word, found in Isaiah 54:17: 

No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every 
tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD. 

Jesus intercedes for us even as the enemy accuses us! And so, what is our role? Align with Jesus, NOT the enemy! Align with intercession, not accusation.  

We can intercede for healing and Holy Spirit breakthrough in the heart and life of the one bringing false accusations against us. We can intercede for our regions and our leadership. We can intercede for God to do His work in our lives and in the Earth. We can lean into words of blessings, words of promise, and words of hope. We can put on our armor and go to battle, but not against the person, no way. (That would be aligning with judgments and accusations.) No, we come against the spirit of division, deception, or anything else at work (like jealousy). We can root ourselves deeply and firmly in love and out of that stand in honor, peace, and mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment and intercession prevails over accusation. We don’t need to worry about self-vindication, all we need to trust is that God’s got this, stand, and DON’T TAKE THE BAIT! And remember, it’s ok to cry.