Joel Osteen Devotional October 21 2020 – Walk Away

Romans 12:21, NIV

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

When David was a teenager, his oldest brother, Eliab, spoke to him in the most condescending, disrespectful, and accusatory way in front of others (see 1 Samuel 17:28). Rest assured that David felt like telling his brother off, but he kept his mouth closed, turned and walked away. Seeing such self-discipline, it’s no wonder God entrusted David to do great things.

You know that if you argue long enough with someone, you’re going to say things you regret later. A ten-minute argument can set the relationship back ten years. You have to learn to walk away. You’re not going to accomplish anything positive in a heated, disrespectful, contentious situation. Let them have the last word, and you keep your peace. The Scripture says that you “overcome evil with good.” You don’t overcome disrespect with more disrespect, or overcome insult with insult, or overcome shouting with more shouting. You do it by staying respectful. You be the first to walk away.

“Father, thank You that in every way possible Jesus overcame evil by doing good. Thank You for giving me the grace to overcome evil by doing good as well. Help me to stay respectful in all of my conversations and every situation and walk away when necessary. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”