How do you handle?

Offense. How do you handle offense? I am a bit curious. I know that sometimes I don't handle it in the correct way. Which...can mean a multitude of different things. Sometimes I fight insult with insult. Sometimes I say hurtful things. Sometimes I think hurtful things. I am not talking...just innocently think them, I am talking entertaining those conversations about what I should have said. And sometimes, I feel like a doormat that just got stomped on...left with clumps of filth laying on my face.

How do you handle it? Gossip about it? Tell the people that you KNOW will be on your side? Entertain those thoughts that make you 'feel' better...temporarily? Or do you ask God what HE would have you do? I don't think He desires for His children to be doormats. Constantly getting trampled. But I also don't think He wants us to fight over every offense. Where is the line? That is what I am struggling with. I wish a flashing light would go off when I was supposed to speak up. But, that is not how God works. He gives us discernment.

Pray. That is the most powerful tool we have. Prayer. It is our conversation with God. Telling Him about our day. Highs...lows...and all that lies between. That is where we lay it all out before Him. We tell Him about how we are offended...and ask Him if it is something that is within us that needs correction. Always look inward first. Look at your heart. Is it right? I don't mean...do you feel entitled to your feelings. Because, we all do. We feel like we deserve them. But...is your heart right....with God? Are you intune with Him? Have you met with Him today? I am sorry to say that I haven't today. My intimate time didn't happen today, because of all of the work that I 'chose' to put first. That is no one's fault but my own. So why was I so offended today? I'd say I just found my answer.

What gets in your way? Usually whatever you allow. I am going to have to get stubborn with my faith. Not putting up with becoming busy and not realizing that I didn't sit down and talk with my King today. Pray with me will you? Pray for time each day that we can connect with God personally. To make our heart reflect His. What can I do today to make my life worthy of imitation. Devotions. Singing. Loving. Writing. Speaking truth and life. Those are just a few of mine. What are yours?