How healthy is your heart?

Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our heart above all else because the condition of our heart affects every area of our lives.

So often we hear the statements, “I’m so offended, “that really offended me.” I have to confess these have come out of my mouth at times too, but to no benefit! Harboring offense will harden our hearts, affect our physical health and our relationship with the Lord.

The condition of the world we live in, with multiple conversations and perspectives on some very real and dire circumstances, can become a seedbed for offense even among brothers and sisters in Christ if we will allow it. Yet the scripture counsels us to overlook offense. ( Proverbs 19:11)

Opportunities for offense and bitterness will surely come our way over and over again but the potential danger is what we do when this happens. Circumstances will happen, disagreements will happen and harsh words will be said. We will certainly have moments and even seasons of deep pain and disappointment, but the price of harboring offense is not worth it. Offense will take our eyes off of the very One who can heal our hearts and set us free to forgive as we have been forgiven. We get to choose whether what has been positioned against us is allowed to dislodge our peace or drive us into the arms of the Healer.

You might be reading this with a heavy heart and thinking, “you have no idea how deeply I’ve been hurt.” You’re right, I probably don’t, and I’m truly sorry that you’ve experienced the pain you have or endured harsh words or actions of abuse. I’m sure there are parts of your story I can identify with. We all have our individual stories of where we’ve hurt. These wounds are real and can run very deep. Choosing to forgive and letting go of an offense does not mean what happened is justified. It does mean that we choose to hand the offense over to a Higher Judge, whose name is Jesus, so that our burden can become light and we can move forward with the good things God has for us.

The enemy would love to load us with offense after offense so that we become so weighed down and focused on what happened that we never embrace the healing and the freedom that Jesus paid for. The One who loves us, invites us to hand our offense to Him and trust Him to heal and restore what was stolen and to replace the lies with the Truth that sets us free.

The very good news is that a way has been made for us to heal and find peace. Jesus knew we would have some heavy burdens in this life. He knew we would need our hearts restored. He promises rest to us as we bring our heavy burdens to him and lay them at his feet.

My prayer for you is that today your heart begins to heal as you hand every offense over to the Higher Judge and step into the healing that is yours.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.” - ‭‭3 John‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.” - 1 Peter‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭TPT‬‬