Laurie Hopkins

We are a society that is easily offended.  

We are offended when we drive, when we shop, when we go out into the community. 

We are offended by people we know. 

We are offended at home by our families, our spouse and our children.  

We are offended at Church. 

We are offended at work.  

We are offended by people we don’t know. 

We are offended on social media, by the news and by what we read. 

The Word of God clearly says that we are not to sit in offense. 

First we need to learn that everything isn’t about us.  

If everything isn’t about us, then we don’t have a reason to be so easily offended by everything and everyone we encounter.  

If we are offended because something happens to actually be about us, we need to speak up.  

Not to the world around us, but privately and directly to the one that we believe has caused the offence.  

Then we need to forgive and move on.  

And if this happens more than once you must continue to forgive and move on. 

Offense causes broken relationship between us and other people and also between us and God.  When we are sitting in offense and our relationships are broken, we cannot live and move in the abundant life Jesus has called us to.  

Are you offended?  

Is it actually about you?  

Do you need to go and speak to someone privately? 

Do you need to forgive someone and move on?  

Whatever step you are at today, make a move. 

Right relationships and abundant living are waiting.

Vision= chazown =a divine vision or dream; especially a vision from God regarding future events; divine revelation. 

We often find ourselves moving fast in a particular direction however we are not always clear on where we are heading! 

To successfully get anywhere, you must know where you are going.  

Otherwise you will never arrive.  

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” 

When we don’t have a clear view of where we are going it is very hard for us to focus in and ensure that all things that we are involved in are working towards the same goal – 

and not cancelling each other out.  

When we don’t have a clear view of where we are going it is hard to bring others along with us.  When we don’t have a clear view of where we are going it is difficult to recognize and celebrate small victories along the way. 

Where does this vision come from?  

When we are in the Presence of the Lord, seeking His Word and asking Him to guide and direct our steps, 

He will not only reveal Himself to us, 

He will reveal the great and mighty plans He has for our lives.   

If we line our vision up with His vision for us, His mighty Hand will be strong upon us.  

We will be able to focus in on what we need to do, who we need to take along with us and we will clearly see the everyday victories which will fill us with “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:8 (KJV).

When I cry out, my voice rises, even until the ears of my Lord.  

From His holy temple, He hears me when I speak.  

The Psalmist points out that my cry comes even to His ears.  

That tells me that He not only hears me, it is more active, He also listens to my cry. 

Have you ever talked to someone who heard what you said but wasn’t really listening? 

Someone who could repeat back the words correctly but missed your heart?  

The Psalmist tells us that our Lord, the One who is our rock, our fortress and deliverer, our strength, our trust, our shield and the horn of our salvation, our stronghold, that Lord is one who listens to the very cry of His children.  

He is not a removed God, but a present God. 

So open up your mouth and cry out to Him today. 

He will not only hear your words but your very heart!