08/25/2026
I notice patterns in my life. And it occurred to me that when I'm in a season of transition, before any season of promotion, there is a great season of offense. And it ALWAYS comes from those I would never imagine. When I tell you this has been an age old, very effective strategy to distract me, to get me off course and to hinder me.
Looking back now, I realize now that before nearly, if not every promotion and elevation season, I found myself greatly offended. I now recognize that as a signal I was just about ready for "take off" as long as I passed the course. Sometimes I would "barely" pass the course. Others I would completely "fail" but honey I would certainly GrOw.
If you find yourself in a season of great offense, I want to suggest to you that you may be at the door of your promotion season. But you HAVE to handle the offense "properly." Guard your heart. Guard it from being marred with bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness. Now, I'm not telling you not to process it. I'm not telling you to dismiss it. I'm not telling you to walk in "toxic positivity" or "TRUE forgiveness" NOT fake, impulsive, lying about forgiveness that you have NOT done YET.
PIVOT: When I find someone who is easily offended and always offended, I am keenly aware that they are headed way off their course. In many instances, they have every RIGHT to their offense. And truth be told, often I even understand why they are offended. But I also understand they can exercise their right to be offended. They can nurse the offense and talk about the offense to everyone who will listen to them. And this will take them away from their purpose.
As for me, I often take the right of refusal. But every now and then I forget. And I take the bait. Check this! Every time and I mean EVERY time, it is a trap to get me off my course.
Today, I was reminded while replaying an unlikely, unfounded response to my kindness to not take the bait. I was reminded to let it go and exercise the right of refusal to take the bait. I was reminded to "Pay attention to yourself. Pray attention to yourself. And Manage YOU!" I was reminded that I'm on assignment and don't have time to take away from my purpose to call a press conference or write a press release about how select individuals are behaving with selective amnesia.
Family, sometimes you have to let folks believe what they will about you and stay on YOUR course. Sometimes people know an old version of you. Let them have that. Sometimes folks lie. Let folks stay off course while trying to provide obstacles to yours. You don't have to be trapped by their mood swings and intent on being offended take YOU off course. Let them. But don't YOU take the bait. Stay on YOUR assignment. Stay on YOUR course.
If you need a prayer to pray, pray this: Lord, let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable to you. Father vindicate me. Let your peace guard my heart and make even my enemies live at peace with me. Let me grow in wisdom and give me the strategy for managing this situation. Give me the prayer to pray for my enemies and those who persecute me. Lord, take me to the next level of love and forgiveness and help me to release my right to anger. I want you more than I want to be right. I want your peace more than I want their praise.
