Pastor Joel Osteen Daily Devotionals August 3 2022 : No Footholds

Ephesians 4:26–27, NIV

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.

The reason many people have no joy or enthusiasm is because they go to bed each night with unforgiveness in their heart. They’re reliving their hurts, thinking about their disappointments, stressing out about somebody who’s trying to make them look bad, upset because somebody’s playing politics in the office. Here’s the problem: If the sun goes down with bitterness, it will come back up with bitterness. If it goes down with resentment, it comes back up with resentment. That’s blocking God’s blessings. That’s giving the enemy a foothold.

Before you go to bed each night, you need to say, “God, I’m releasing every negative thing that’s happened to me today–every hurt, every worry, and every disappointment. I’m forgiving the people who did me wrong. God, I’m going to bed in peace.” When you do that, the sun will go down with nothing blocking God’s blessings. Don’t go to bed at night with any kind of defeat still in your mind. Let it go and trust God to make your wrongs right.

Father, thank You that I can guard my heart and mind against all the negative things that try to get in. Thank You that I can forgive anyone who has done me wrong and release the hurts, the worries, and disappointments. I will stop the anger and bitterness from getting in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.