Lord, help us to control the spirit of offense

Today's Devotion, Lord, help us to control the spirit of offense. Be careful of the spirit of offense. It hears things that were never said.

It perceives an insult when none was given. The truth is an offense, but it is not a sin. Lies can give you friends, but there will be times when the truth may end up giving you enemies.

If you take everything personally, you will remain offended for the rest of your life. There will be a time when you must let go and let God. The spirit of offense is not only triggered by the truth.

It can also come from misunderstandings, simple disagreements, when people feel disrespected and when their expectations are unmet, unfairness or intentional mistreatment by others. My brothers and sisters in Christ, never allow an offense to let you walk away from righteousness and end up on the road of sinfulness. Bitterness destroys, but God restores.

In Ecclesiastes 7 verse 21 to 22 it is written, Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you. For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others. And in Luke 17 verse 3 to 4 it is written, Watch yourselves.

If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, I repent, you must forgive him. Heavenly Father, there are times when we allow our emotions to take control of our actions in a negative way.

In Corinthians 10 verse 32 it is written, Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God. Lord, help us not to hold grudges or harbor ill feelings and thoughts towards those who have hurt or insulted us. Help me to recognize misunderstandings and also not to cling to negative words or hold onto offenses until they grow into something deeper.

Lord, I pray that offense will not harden my heart, but I will need your help to demonstrate love and kindness to those who have wronged me.

All these I ask in Jesus name, Amen.