Don’t Let Offense Take Root

2 Corinthians 2:10–11 NLT
“When you forgive this man, I forgive him too… so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.”

A big area where the enemy works is in our feelings and emotions.

Offense is often where it starts. Someone hurts you. They speak to you differently. They don’t acknowledge you. Something happens, and in that moment you have a choice: What am I going to do with the offense?

If you allow it to remain, the thoughts begin. Then offense can become unforgiveness, and unforgiveness can eventually become bitterness.

Offense is the hurt or insult.
Unforgiveness is choosing to hold onto that offense and refusing to release it.
Bitterness is the hostility, and anger that begins to take root.

If we deal with the offense quickly, the root never has the opportunity to grow.

One of the greatest tests of whether you have truly forgiven someone is whether you can pray for them—not a manipulative prayer asking God to show them how wrong they are, but genuinely praying that God would heal them, help them, and do good in their life.

You can forgive someone without giving them access to you, but forgiveness means you are no longer wishing harm on them or holding onto what they did.

Here’s a challenge for you today:
If an offense comes today, deal with it quickly. Release it to the Lord before it has time to become unforgiveness or bitterness, and choose to genuinely pray for that person.