Joel Osteen Devotional 28 September 2021 : Don’t Be a Doormat

Colossians 3:15, NIV

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

It’s easy to let people cause us to lose our peace and live frustrated. Too often, we think we have to keep everyone happy–our spouse and children, our neighbors, cousins, and coworkers–but we end up only trying to change things that only God can change. You can’t change people and make them do what’s right. You can pray for them and encourage them, but they have their own free will. Don’t let them steal your joy or make you feel guilty because you’re not meeting their demands. What they really want is to control you.

Don’t fall into the trap of codependent relationships. Be good to others, be kind, be loving, but don’t be a doormat. Your destiny is too important to let people control you. You’re not doing them a favor by catering to them. You’re enabling their dysfunction and keeping yourself from moving forward. You have to set some boundaries and let the peace of Christ–not their demands–rule in your heart. Stay at rest.

Father, thank You for Your peace and joy that rule and guard my heart as I put my trust in You. Show me where I need to put up boundaries from anyone or anything that is stealing my peace. I will stay at rest and not allow others to control me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.