Holy Spirit, you are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by your presence, Lord

Holy Spirit - Francesca Battistelli

Has anyone ever said something to you or about you that was intended to cut you down or insult you? Being called names used to happen on the playground but doesn’t happen as much as an adult. Has anyone ever said something to or about you that was intended to cut you down or insult you, and it had the opposite effect? Instead of letting those words cut you down, you allow them to build you up? That’s precisely what happened to me recently.

I was hanging out with a friend, and that friend was telling me about a new show on Netflix. The show is called Lucifer. In this show, it seems that the Devil has become bored with Hell and has decided to come to Earth. Somehow, he gets involved with helping law enforcement. That’s about all I know because I’ve never watched it. This friend of mine had been telling me about it, and I’d listen to all the reasons I should watch the show and leave it at that. I have never put too much thought into things like this. I care about anything, and usually, when a friend suggests something, I’ll at least check it out. Sometimes, I like the shows or music offered, and sometimes I don’t. For some reason, I was not interested when I learned about this Lucifer show. Something inside me was turned off by it. So, I never checked it out.

At age 43, I am pretty much over being called names by anyone, but something strange happened a few weeks ago. I was hanging out with the same friend, and he was again telling me about the Lucifer show and why I should watch it. When he saw me shaking my head as if to say I wasn’t interested, he became frustrated and asked me why I hadn’t watched it. My response didn’t take me long to answer. I said that I wasn’t interested in watching a show about the Devil or that makes him the main character. My friend’s response gave me the title of this blog post. He immediately responded by saying, “Wow, don’t be going and becoming one of those bible thumpers.”

I hadn’t heard that term for a long time. It took me a minute to even realize what he had said. My friend wasn’t trying to insult me, but his reaction and response made me think. Later that evening, we discussed other shows like The Walking Dead and Yellowstone. My friend pointed out that I had no problems watching those two shows, potentially way worse than the Lucifer show he wanted me to watch.

I was on my way home, and all I could think about was the Bible Thumper comment. I remember being young and using that term to make fun of people who seemed too caught up in religion. I realize now that they were doing what God calls all of us to do. It took me some time to think about it, but now I should be proud that someone would call me a Bible Thumper. Does that mean that I am displaying my faith in such a way that someone would think to call me that? If so, I’m happily a bible thumper and will proudly wear that t-shirt and wave that flag.

Something inside me spoke when I went to Netflix and pulled up that show. I didn’t hear it like I would listen to a physical voice, but the message was clear. It was turning me away from the show in such a way that I didn’t even want to give it a try.

I know that it was the Holy Spirit speaking to me. It’s the same voice I hear when I know I’ve done wrong or am conflicted about making a wrong decision. We should take time daily to be with God, and I genuinely believe that will open our ears to hear His voice when He speaks to us.

I used to make fun of the kids that seemed like bible thumpers. Now I realize that they had it right long before I ever did.

I didn’t dive into His word until I was 42 years old. I am now 28 weeks into this bible study journey, and it has truly been life-changing for me. Sometimes, people are afraid of change. Especially when it has to do with changing our hearts and minds, I asked God to change mine, and that’s precisely what He did.

Never be afraid to show your faith. Never be scared to be who YOU were made to be.

I’m going to keep thumping.

Thump, thump, thump!