Ephesians 4:26-27,  "‘In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."

Think

"When you give the devil a foothold, it can turn into a stronghold that eventually becomes a chokehold." Have you ever seen something small become a big deal because it was not dealt with? Maybe it's a small misunderstanding with a friend that doesn't get discussed right away. Maybe it's something little that irritates you, and instead of saying something, you let it build up over time. Maybe you get offended, but instead of getting over it, you let it replay in your mind over and over again. Those little things can grow over time into something BIG! The Bible challenges us to "not let the sun go down while you are still angry." Waiting to deal with something that needs to be forgiven can give the devil a foothold. We may think we have it under control, but the devil has a way of using unforgiven things to control us. That's why we can't wait until we feel like dealing with it. Decide to forgive and stop the devil from getting a foothold!

Act

Who do you need to forgive? Make the choice to act today. Start by asking God to give you the strength to forgive. Then, live out that strength for the rest of the day by choosing to not think about how you were wronged. Every time you are tempted to think about it, think about Ephesians 4:32 instead, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving me. Thank you that You give me the strength to forgive others. Please protect me from giving the devil a foothold by giving me the strength to forgive others quickly. In Jesus' name, Amen.