“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16).
There are dangers of offences. Offences would lift the shield of God’s protection from your life. The anointing (God’s presence and power) is our protection. But when you allow offences to take root in your heart and life, you would lose that anointing, and when you lose the anointing, you would be the most vulnerable. Have you wondered why Saul died as though he was never anointed (2 Samuel 1:21)? He was living in offences. He was jealous of David. He was threatened by David’s rising. And as he lived in offences, he was losing the anointing without knowing.
What about you? Are you losing the anointing without knowing? Are you now vulnerable to things that you were very much shielded from before? Does the devil now have a field day in your life and affairs? Have you left the secret place due to offences (Psalms 91:1)? Are you now living life always ruminating on what wrong someone did to you instead of spending time soaking in God and practicing His presence?
It is not too late for you. You can live free! You can yank off that offence now! You can stir up the anointing in you and on you right now! Say no to the devil. Forgive the offender. Forgive yourself. Position yourself for the avalanche of God’s love and power so you can be secured in it, and so your ways can be prosperous. Stop the devil. Stir up life. Fulfil your destiny.
I know that offences can be very painful. But the pain of offences cannot be compared to the pain of failure or of a life lived below God’s expectation. My purpose in this writing is not to justify offences or exonerate the offender, it is to free you. It is to help you leverage God’s Grace for your personal victory. Listen, no matter the weight of whatever anyone has done to you, it is not worth your destiny; your destiny is weightier.
You must learn to focus on God, yourself and your future, and not the other person. Stop waiting for the offender to apologise before you forgive. Forgive because of you, not because of the offender. Don’t let anyone determine or decide your personal peace and progress. It is not worth it. Forgive. Let go and let God. Fulfil your destiny.
May you not be exposed in life and destiny in Jesus name!
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria