Joel Osteen daily devotionals June 22 2022: Great Character

Romans 12:21, NIV

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

You don’t overcome evil that has been done to you by repaying the person with the same evil they did to you–they hurt you, so you hurt them; they betray you, so you betray them. Not only will you make the problem worse and multiply the conflict, but you’ll get stuck where you are. It will keep you from rising higher.

When unfair things happen to you, the apostle Paul says to not take revenge, but to leave it in God’s hands to repay. That takes a big person, that takes great character, and it’s really a test. When you prove to God that you’re not bitter, you’re not vindictive, you’re not holding a grudge, you’re big enough to swallow your pride and do good to them, then He knows you’re ready to be promoted. He’s not going to promote you to pay somebody back. When you’re the bigger person, when you are loving even though someone else doesn’t deserve it, that’s freeing you to go to the next level.

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 bless those who have done me wrong, to leave them in Your hands, and to believe that You are taking me to new levels. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.