We have all had our feelings hurt at one time or another. We've all felt insulted by someone or felt like an injustice was done to us. Usually, when our feelings are hurt by someone, instead of letting it go, resentment begins to build on the inside of us.

Resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness and offenses can have a dramatic impact in your life if they are not dealt with and uprooted. They can literally stop you from ever achieving success. Once you realize how devastating an offense is in your heart, you'll want to quickly dig it out and be free once and for all.

Have you ever been around someone who constantly talks about their past and how badly they were hurt? Perhaps they were in an abusive relationship, or grew up in an abusive family and have never been able to forgive the person who abused them.

Whether the offense entered them due to abuse or whether they've been offended simply over a comment someone made about them, they must let it go.

If you have been abused mentally, physically or even sexually, you need to ask the Holy Spirit to come on the scene and help you release the offense in your life that has caused you so much pain. The anointing destroys the yoke of bondage - all types of bondages - even the bondage of being offended. Jesus is there to comfort you, and to help you get over this hurt in your life.

"Who is weak, and I do not feel [his] weakness? Who is made to stumble and fall and have his faith hurt, and I am not on fire [with sorrow or indignation]?" (2 Cor. 11:29, AMP).

We can clearly read in this scripture that Jesus is right with us, and He is willing and able to help us through the hard times in our lives. There are many, many avenues in which one can be offended. The spirit of offense can affect us on a daily basis. We have to choose to not let people, words, or actions offend us.

A number of years ago, there was a prominent minister who made a statement about my husband that really upset me. I became so offended at this man that any time I would see him on the television, I would turn the TV off immediately. I became critical of the things that he said and did. I walked around with the spirit of offense in my heart, totally unaware of it. I was completely unaware that I had fallen into the pit that Satan had dug for me. I thought I was protecting my husband; instead I was hurting myself.

When I began to realize what had happened to me (that I had become offended), I had to repent. I had to get on my knees and ask God to forgive me. It wasn't until I began doing this study on offense, that I realized just how detrimental holding an offense is to one's life. I did not realize that allowing unforgiveness to stay in my heart could stop my growth in Christ.

I was offended at that man. But I had to purposely make a decision to release all unforgiveness, hurt feelings and offense toward that man once and for all. Then I began to pray for him. When you sincerely pray for someone, you can't be critical of them. Prayer will cause you to fall in love with that person. I wanted to be like David in the Bible and walk around with a loving heart, a forgiving heart, letting God be judge and not raising my voice against God's anointed.

Source: Conquering The Spirit of Offense by Carolyn Savelle
Excerpt permission granted by Jerry Savelle Ministries International