How Much Energy is Wasted on Offenses?

It is true that offenses aren't given, they are taken. It is our choice whether or not to agree with the suggestion to get offended about what we feel may have happened to us or been said about us.  Taking an offense is a great way to hinder the progress God is making in your life and work. You can get stuck and over think it, dwell on it and all it does is grow within you.  This can be a great enemy to our life progress.

The initial “sting” is not the problem. We are human and our feelings do get hurt and sometimes others may initially disappoint us.  It’s important to immediately give these thoughts and feelings up when they appear. Forgive quickly if you is need to (whether you “feel” it or not!) and remind yourself where your identity lies.  The problem that comes when we allow these feelings and thoughts to flourish is nothing good or beneficial for our lives. If the seed remains in your heart it will manifest with pride or bitterness which led to division and separation in relationships.  

This can be challenging if we tend to take things personally, but not impossible to work through. It is like anything else, practice, practice and more practice!  It is intentionally challenging the way you think about anything directed toward you. It is like gratitude. When we intentionally look for all the reason we should be grateful we eventually stay more in a state of mind of gratitude. In Philippians 4:8-9 it says,  “⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Life is too short! Remember, those who talk down about people or degrade other have something wrong in their hearts! Think about it…CHANGE your thoughts, and you CHANGE your world!