“If you take things personally, you will be offended the rest of your life”
― Anonymous
Don't take things personally.
Here's a big secret about how to not take things personally: work on yourself to heal your own wounds. As we heal, then we can see that other people have wounds that cause them to act or react in all sorts of ways. Have you ever seen somebody who is tense, where it is easy to get on their nerves? Do they always seem irritable? Does this describe how you feel or someone you know? Turmoil is usually caused by emotional buildup (things in the past that were never let go of). If something is bothering us, we need to make the choice to release our concerns to the Lord. Whether it be bitterness, fear, hurt feelings, emotional damage, feelings of rejection or abandonment, those feelings are devastating to our spiritual health and must be released because they will cause more damage than good in our lives. The purpose of satan is to use offences as a trap to hold you from all that God wants you to be. The devil knows that harboring unforgiveness in our hearts stop our progress in the things of God and delay God’s perfect plan for our lives - so the enemy constantly provides opportunity for us to be offended. God wants us to release our emotional buildup, hurt feelings, etc. and give those things to Him. There is no need to be offended by what someone did or said, the issue is not about you - it's about them. Every time we choose to forgive an offense, we are preserving our relationships and slamming the door in the devil's face. We must choose to not let every little thing effect our mood and attitude. A wise person knows that something can be learned from everyone - even those who aren't nice to you.
Focus Scriptures:
1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Matthew 5:43-44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
Proverbs 19:11
A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
Joy In Action Today:
Can you remember the last time someone did something you did not like? Write a letter to that person and forgive them. After you write the letter, you can choose to give it to the person, or throw it in the trash. Pray and ask God to remove any offenses or emotions you may be holding in your heart.