When thinking about the word “Unity” I am reminded of Psalm 133:1-2 which says:

“How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron (the first high priest), that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments (consecrating the whole body) (Amplified Bible).

So often, we find that there is difficulty living in unity. The one word that drives disharmony in families and especially among the Body of Christ is offense. Being offended will hinder your spiritual relationship with the Lord as well as your natural relationships with others.

Offended people always produce negative fruit….bitterness, anger, hurt, resentment, jealously and hatred. Most of the time those that are offended, do not even realize how offended they are. They seem oblivious to their condition because they are focused on the wrong that was done to them, instead of living according to the Word of God.

In the book of John it says that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. That is his main and only purpose. He uses deceptive and manipulative tactics to pit us against each other and keep us from loving one another. When the enemy gets a stronghold upon our emotions, we will stay in denial and have pity parties with ourselves.

Too often it is a fellow believer that hurts us and it really can feel like betrayal. David says:

“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, there I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God in the throng.” (Psalm55:12-14)

No one ever wants to think that someone close to us would ever hurt us but it happens. The closer the relationship with the person who has hurt you; the deeper the pain and offense that you will feel on the inside.  The real question becomes is what will you do when this happens? Will you run to God and do what His Word says? Will you forgive that person and put the past behind you?

Don’t be blind to Satan’s tactics and tricks. He wants to keep us in bondage. Unforgiveness will affect our way of thinking, our prayer life and our faith. God’s Word is the only thing that will open our eyes and set us free from holding any feelings of injustice that we feel has been done to us. 

Jesus Christ paid the price for us to walk and talk intimately with God. When He died on the Cross and defeated the enemy, Jesus tore down the middle wall of partition that separated us from having direct access to the Father. For believers, it is a right and privilege to be able to go into the presence of God. We don’t have to wait for a High Priest to go on our behalf; we ourselves can go boldly to the throne of Grace.

When you become hungry and thirsty for God, it can seem as though Satan will attack you more and more. His plan is to discourage you from seeking God and desiring the fullness of His Presence. He doesn’t want us to experience the power, peace and protection that come from being in the presence of God. That same power and blessings that comes from your obedience to the Word of God.

Don't allow the voices  of your spiritual enemy to discourage or defeat you. Don't allow his tactics to make you feel ashamed or unworthy to be in God's presence. You are not a mistake or error. Before the foundation of the earth, the Lord knew you and had a planned established for your life.  Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has good plans for us. Those plans are good and not evil. You were designed to win in this life.