Joel Osteen Daily Devotional January 25 2023

1 Peter 3:9, NLT

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

God’s favor on your life means that He will release greater blessings, greater influence, and greater resources. But you have to realize that as others see you succeed, some small-minded people will get jealous and start criticizing, finding fault, trying to make you look bad. You have to be able to handle the negative that comes with the blessing. If you’re going to be offended and upset, if you allow it to bring you into conflict with people, then the blessing won’t be a blessing.

You don’t have to respond to the negative comments and people who don’t like or understand you. Keep your heart pure and don’t try to repay them. Be good to those who aren’t good to you. Overlook what they say or do. The sooner you quit giving the negative your time and attention, the better off you’re going to be. You have the grace to rise above it, the grace to ignore it, the grace to not let it bother you. Step into that grace and move forward to greater blessing.

Father, thank You for giving me the grace to rise above the negative comments and people who are not for me. Help me to bless those who have done me wrong, to leave them in Your hands, and to believe that You are taking me to new levels. I look forward to even greater blessings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.