Joel Osteen Devotional February 9 2021 – Keep It on the Outside

Ephesians 4:26, TLB

If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down with you still angry get over it quickly.

It’s okay to feel anger, to feel hurt, to feel disappointment, but it’s not okay to let those feelings stay. You can’t take them in so close to your heart that that’s all you think about, and you wake up the next morning upset, wanting to pay somebody back, not excited about your future. If you keep thinking about it, reliving the hurt, and dwelling on what they said, you’re allowing it into your heart. You have to guard your heart from that. Keep it on the surface, on the outside don’t bring it into the secret place of your heart. When you face opposition, trouble, and bad breaks, that’s when it’s easiest to let anger and bitterness in. In those times when you don’t understand it, come back to the place of peace, the place of trust. Don’t let what’s outside get inside. Your heart needs to stay positive, hopeful, peaceful, and at rest. Keep God on the throne.

Father, thank You that there is a secret place in my heart where You dwell and where I can abide in peace. Help me guard against all the negative things that try to get in. I can’t stop the circumstances around me, but I will stop the anger and bitterness from getting in me. In Jesus Name, Amen.