On Friday I had an instance where someone I cared for greatly did something that really, really hurt my feelings.  So much so that I had to fight to keep my heart right because the thing that was done to me was so wrong.  I almost sat down and cried but I refused and I fought to keep my peace.

          Then my refrigerator went out...again.  It had been fixed just two months ago and it went out again.  It was just another hit at the time I needed it the least.

          For those two reasons Saturday was a hard day for me, but I kept repeating scriptures to myself and chose to keep peace.  I can recognize when the devil wants a foothold in my life and I know to give him no place. 

          Then Sunday came and my daughter received a phone call while she was at my house.  It seemed that someone she loved had done something to her that was unexpected and it really hurt her, she did cry, she was so hurt.  It's one thing for the enemy to come at me, quite another for him to come at my daughter.  This thing that happened was causing her loss, financially.  Now Mama was mad.

          First I walked into my bedroom and said 'okay God, what now?'  And he reminded me to give no place to the devil.  He reminded me to take no offence.

          Philippians 1:10-12 says; And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.

          God plainly tells us to be without offence, although it is not always easy, this one thing I have learned; if I refuse offence when the enemy comes at me through other people, God can and will turn it for my good.  However if I get offended, that offense gets into my heart and it takes a long, long time to get it out.  It is just not worth it.

          Therefore I said to Bre 'come on we are going to replace what you just lost.'  She said 'Mom, it is not your place.'  I said 'no, but we are going to replace it, there will be no more loss like this.'  I shared with her how we had to keep our mouth shut and our heart right before God and if we did that, he would take care of it.  It wasn't easy, I had three bad days before this hit and now I see my daughter hurt but still...I refused to allow the enemy to win.

          As I looked up the word offense I found it meant; an obstacle in your path, something to cause you to stumble, and to strike your foot against a stone.  That is how offence works, if you become offended you will stumble, therefore we must refuse offence at all times, especially when it is the most difficult thing to do.

          You have to ask yourself this question; why is the enemy fighting so hard, why is he trying to get me off this path, why am I worth his time today?  There is a reason he is hoping you will stumble.  You are on a path that he is desperately trying to get you off of...don't get off the path...refuse to stumble.  Walk in love and keep moving.  I promise you if you do that, God will make a way of escape and he will turn everything meant for your harm for your good.  The offence may come...but the outcome is up to you.  Don't get off the path, don't stumble, just keep moving.

 

 

 

Kim Potter