Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

As you begin to walk out your day today, you can count on the fact that there will be something said or done that will irritate or annoy or insult you! It may be a driver on the road, something a family member says, a news report, a political view, someone on your social media platform, or someone at work. It’s just something that happens to most daily! You might immediately agree with me, or not! But just remember this and watch! It will happen. Why will it happen? It will happen because the devil knows that God’s blessing is in unity and so his strategy is to prevent it by causing annoyance and offense!

Proverbs 12:16 (NIV) says, “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.”

For the most part, an insult is an intended offense although many people say insulting things without ever realizing it. Then there are all the little annoyances that aren’t really an insult, but they provoke us like one. For example, the car that squeezes in front of you the second you allow just a little extra space. Or the person who cuts you off when you’re speaking because they weren’t listening to what you were saying to begin with. If a list of things that irritate or insult people were constructed, it would be endless.

Some people let every little thing get to them and according to God’s Word, that makes them foolish. “A fool shows his annoyance at once…” People that are easily and quickly annoyed have forgotten their own flaws and shortcomings.So whatcan you do about it?

1.) Know that being provoked is a strategy of Satan to rob you of your peace and blessings. Be smarter than that! Letting the multitude of possible annoyances get to you will eventually cause you to despise and dislike being around people. That would be a victory for the devil to deprive you of a blessing. So, lean on God and forgive others as God has forgiven you. Be merciful toward the mistakes and annoyances that come at you, knowing you are guilty of them too. Matthew 5:7 (NIV) says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Be merciful and you’ll also be shown mercy. 

2.) Understand the power of unity. It is poetically revealed by God in Psalm 133:1-3 (NLT). “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the LORD has pronounced His blessing, even life everlasting.” 

“For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil…”When the Bible talks about anointing, it is implying that the presence and healing power of God are there. And the Bible teaches that the anointing of God breaks the power and deceitful lies of the enemy.  So, the takeaway is, unity is anointed and full of God’s presence, mercy, and forgiveness. It’s refreshing like dew is to the ground when it’s dry. Ultimately unity brings a collaboration of effort that leads to refreshing, more joy, and greater blessing for all! This is why the devil tries to bring annoyance and offense—to get you mad at people instead of being unified with them. When you watch the news, doesn’t it seem like most of the world hates each other? Now you understand why! It’s the devil’s strategy! And it is exactly that, a demonic strategy. 

When you begin to choose to show mercy and overlook potential offenses, patience begins to develop in your character. Not only do you grow more patient, but you eventually become good at overlooking offenses as the saying, “Water off a duck’s back.” Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” There is great wisdom in learning  these practices. Do so and you are on your way to more unity, joy, and refreshing in your life instead of days filled with small emotional setbacks from the onslaught of annoyances that seem to otherwise steadily come!  Do so and the world will actually feel more friendly to you. It will grow in you and make you a new you! So… don’t get mad. Get glad because… James 2:13 (NIV) “… Mercy triumphs over judgment

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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