The Battle Is Not Yours: Lessons from Psalm 35 | Tom Dupree Show.

Tom explores the powerful message of Psalm 35 and how it relates to our modern cultural and political landscape. Tom examines how many dysfunctional behavioral patterns have become normalized in American society, particularly in politics.

Episode Highlights
Spiritual Battles: The Lord Fights For Us

Tom opens with a discussion of Psalm 35, highlighting how scripture teaches us that our true spiritual battles are fought by the Lord, not by our own strength.

“A lot of people think that the spiritual life, the Christian life is about fighting the good fight onward…But if you really look into what things say in scripture, the real battles are fought by the Lord. The people simply show up.” – Tom Dupree

Tom emphasizes that true spiritual growth comes from knowing God through prayer and scripture, rather than relying on our own efforts.

Dysfunctional Patterns in Modern America

Drawing from a list of characteristics associated with adult children of alcoholics, Tom makes connections to behaviors he observes in American political discourse:

1. 
   
2. Fear of Authority (00:10:15)
   
   

   “One thing about people nowadays, anybody that acts like they do have some authority, people are very quick to shoot arrows in their back.”

   
   
   
3. Approval Seeking (00:11:30)
   
   

   “The people that are decidedly sort of left wingers would throw something out there and then there would be this echo chamber of their friends… It was not ever designed for somebody to really present an idea that might oppose what that person said.”

   
   
   
4. Victim Mentality (00:13:45)
   
   

   “We think of ourselves as victims. We don’t look at life and say…people were just, they were all talking about January 20th and that’s when my life changed as if I had been victimized by this election process.”

   
   
   

America First vs. Misplaced Priorities

Tom discusses how focusing on international issues at the expense of domestic needs reflects unhealthy patterns (00:17:20):

“We have an overdeveloped sense of responsibility and it is easier for us to be concerned with others rather than ourselves. This enables us not to look too closely at our own faults…This obsession with Ukraine…We are way more concerned with Ukraine than we are, say, with people in Western North Carolina who still don’t have homes.”

Understanding Wealth and Business Success (00:37:50)

In the final segment, Tom offers perspective on how billionaires are misunderstood:

“Billionaires are like athletes we don’t begrudge. No politicians begrudge Luca for being a good basketball player or LeBron James…but if you’re talented in the area of business and you happen to have created a lot of things and a lot of wealth, all of a sudden you’re a billionaire You’re bad. No, these are some of the most gifted people on the face of the earth.”

Key Timestamps

• 
  
• 00:00:00 – Introduction and reading of Psalm 35
  
• 00:04:30 – Discussion on trusting God vs. self-reliance
  
• 00:09:15 – Introduction to the characteristics of dysfunctional patterns
  
• 00:11:30 – Echo chambers and approval seeking
  
• 00:13:45 – Victim mentality in politics
  
• 00:17:20 – Misplaced priorities (Ukraine vs. domestic needs)
  
• 00:30:15 – Return to the list of dysfunctional characteristics
  
• 00:37:50 – Discussion on billionaires and wealth misconceptions
  

Final Thoughts

Tom Dupree presents a compelling case for how many Americans have adopted unhealthy, reactive patterns of thinking that manifest in our political discourse. By drawing parallels between the characteristics of dysfunction and current political behavior, he challenges listeners to examine their own patterns and consider more balanced, healthy perspectives.

Whether you agree with his political assessments or not, Tom’s insights on spiritual battles being fought by the Lord and the importance of balancing care for others with self-care offer valuable food for thought for anyone seeking greater wisdom and balance in their approach to life and politics.

This episode of the Tom Dupree Show is brought to you by Dupree Financial Group, where we make your money work for you. For more episodes, visit dupreefinancial.com and click on the radio tab.

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