“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires” James 1:19-20, NLT.
My wife has told me not to allow certain foods, like grits or oatmeal, to sit in the pot after they’ve been made. If you let them sit there, it hardens in the pot. The pot then becomes harder to clean than if it were cleaned right after it had been used.
You are a man, not a non-stick pot. You can get angry, frustrated, and yes, you can get offended. Yet, it is wiser to quickly handle your hurt than to let it sit there in your heart. It’s much better to quickly handle what you’re upset about right when it happens, than to let time go by and it begins to harden you toward them, and even God. You will give place to the enemy the longer you allow the offense to sit there. With that one seed, he will use it to produce pain, discord, division, arguments, unforgiveness, and bitterness in your life.
Don’t be prideful and live secretly offended. Don’t live secretly angry and hurt another moment. Learn how to be quick to listen and talk about it, quick to forgive, and quick to repent (quick to change and make your own adjustments). If you’ve been hurt, handle it swiftly. Love God’s law and imitate Him, as He loves and forgives us.
Prayer: Father, help me not to let it sit there. I desire for any seeds of offense to be plucked up and dealt with in my heart. Help me to not give the devil any place to come in and ruin the relationships I have. I will love Your law of forgiveness and imitate You. Teach me how to set things back right again quickly, just like You. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Study: Psalm 119:165, Proverbs 18:19, Ephesians 4:32
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