Defense against Offense

You know those people that drive us crazy. The ones that can get under your skin in 3.2 seconds, and walk away as if nothing was done. It’s the passive aggressive, fake polite ones that do it for me. I know when someone has hurt me greatly and deeply, there is no question, I stay away. Understanding the power in forgiveness. I will stay on my knees in prayer to forgive. I choose to walk in the freedom of being forgiven, and not be worn down by the scars of bitterness. Yes, we all have heard how in order to be forgiven we must forgive. Forgiveness is not for them, but for you. We all know someone that we can’t be around because of how miserable and unforgiving they are. It can seem impossible to forgive someone that has wounded us to the core ,and in most cases it is. At least in our own strength, but this is where we call on the power of Christ, to do in us what we ourselves cannot do. Our resolve must be that we are open and willing, to allow the power of God to change our hearts, and renew a right spirit within us. Giving it to Him day to day, moment to moment and even minute to minute. He will honor our request, if we trust him with our pain. We still carry a responsibility to block against these offenses. Some of us still go and pick up the phone ,when we know that on the other line is someone

 waiting with a passive aggressive attack of the tongue. We may still go into circles where we will have to fight against an offensive word, and we have been hit enough times to know better. Stay away from hazardous people. Show love from a distance. Use the power of prayer to intervene on behalf of, your miserable brother or sister, but do not by any means continue to put yourself in the line of fire. Defend your environment against offense. Proverbs 22:5 says, in the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.