Vance K. Jackson leads readers in this heart transforming devotional. Anger wants to lead you on a path of destruction, rejection and shame. When anger rules you, your heart becomes chained to the act of the offense and your heart becomes lorded by the poison of the past. Choose to let the offense go. Choose to forgive and let God wash away the pain of the past.
Vance K. Jackson
Day 1
Scripture: Ephesians 4:26
Don’t Let “It” Rule You.
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” Ephesians 4:26 KJV
Who’s your master? Who’s your lord? Will you allow anger to reign over you? Will you choose to allow the pain, trespass, or offense of the past lord over your heart? God wants to release you from the bondage of the past. He wants to regulate your heart. He wants to guide you and lead your emotions. Let His Word regulate you. God wants to sit on the throne of your heart. Choose to bow down to Him and allow His Word to rule and reign over your heart.
When you choose to allow your emotions to rule you, you’re allowing the trespass or the offense to lead you. Anger is an emotion, but it does not have to lord over you. The Bible states in Ephesians 4:26, to not allow anger to drive you to sin. You may have been hurt by someone’s careless act and feel as though you have the “right” to be angry, but you have the choice to submit to God’s Word and His Way of doing things or you can choose to fall victim to the sting of the offense and the bondage of anger. Choose not to sin. Proverbs 25:28 KJV states, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” Let God rule over your heart.
Proverbs 18:21 KJV declares, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” You have the choice to let anger rule your heart and its venom to lead your tongue or you can choose to submit your heart, tongue and actions over to God. Forgive freely and let God rule your heart. Don’t let anger rule over your actions. Choose to let the Word of God rule over and lead your actions. Submit to God and choose your words wisely.
Day 2
Scripture: Joshua 1:9
Temporary Offenses.
When you hold on to an offense, its purpose is to derail, distract and to disrupt you. The ultimate objective of an offense is to keep your heart ensnared to the past act. In fact, the offense could have taken place many years ago, or perhaps you’ve encountered an offense just a few moments ago, the venomous poison of offense was meant to keep you paralyzed in the past. In either case, offense tries to cling to your heart and keep your heart held hostage to its venomous sting.
When you forgive you release offense’s grip from your heart. When you forgive you release the bondage of the past. When you forgive you’re set free from any paralytic effects of the enemy. Choose to walk in your Destiny. Walk free in Christ. Learn to forgive quickly, early and often. Choose to be free and don’t look back.
Remember, the sting of the offense will try to keep you imprisoned to the past transgression. That one moment can keep you stuck. Joshua 1:8 teaches us to, “Meditate upon God’s word day and night”. Choose to meditate and dwell upon God’s Word. Don’t focus on the offense — focus on God.
Anger wants to lead you on a path of destruction, rejection and shame. When anger rules you, your heart becomes chained to the act of the offense and your heart becomes lorded by the poison of the past. Don’t let Satan have that much control over you. Choose to let “it” go. Choose to forgive and let God wash away your pain.
Day 3
Scripture: Matthew 18:21-22
Forgive Others.
Who is your lord? Who has your heart? What past act has a grip on your heart? When an offense has the power to rule your actions, that offense has now become your lord. Release the grip of the past by forgiving others quickly. Let God handle your heart and lead your future.
Don’t let the offense of the past torment you. The past has no authority over your future. Choose to embrace God. Choose to be led by His Word and not by your fears. Let the offense go. Let the past go. Don’t carry the weight of the past into the future. Don’t let another season or cycle pass you by without you forgiving others.
Matthew 18:21-22 KJV states, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Choose to forgive others regularly and often. Let forgiveness become a daily habit. Let forgiving others become a part of your lifestyle. Let forgiveness reign in your life, flourish in your marriage, and let it become a daily habit in your business, in your ministry and in every part of your life.
Forgiving others washes your heart. When you forgive you’re choosing to allow God to dwell in your heart. When you forgive, you’re allowing God to lead your actions. When you forgive you’re choosing to be governed by God’s Word instead of being led by your emotions.
Forgive others and sin not.