Are you offended?
Maybe your immediate answer is no. But is there a conversation you keep replaying? A wrong you believe needs to be repaid? A story you keep retelling? Someone whose motives you’ve already decided you understand?
Offense can gain momentum in our minds before we recognize what is happening. And while we cannot control what other people say or do, through Christ we can recognize the mindset temptations that invite us to take up an offense and allow it to take root.
In this episode of Monday Mindset Reset, Dr. Denise Pass examines five mindset temptations that can lead us into offense—and how the Gospel gives us a higher way to think about each one.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- Rehearsing the wrong — when our minds continually replay what someone did.
- Requiring repayment — when we believe our freedom depends on someone finally making things right.
- Retelling the offense — when we seek an audience to validate our hurt rather than wise counsel that helps us heal.
- Reading motives — when we move beyond what someone did and assume we know why they did it.
- Reclaiming the right to retaliate — when hurt convinces us we have the right to make someone pay.
The Gospel doesn’t ask us to pretend the offense didn’t happen. It doesn’t call evil good, eliminate appropriate boundaries, or mean reconciliation must always occur.
Instead, the Gospel reframes our offenses.
Offense says, “Rehearse what they did.” The Gospel says, “Remember what Christ has done.”
Offense says, “They owe me.” The Gospel says, “Remember what you have been forgiven.”
Offense says, “I need everyone to hear my side.” The Gospel says, “God knows the whole story.”
Offense says, “I know why they did it.” The Gospel says, “God knows their heart. I don’t have to.”
Offense says, “I have the right to make them pay.” The Gospel says, “I can entrust justice to the God who judges justly.”
Someone else’s sin does not have to become an invitation for sin to take root in us.
What they did belongs to them. What I do with what they did belongs to me before God.
📖 Key Scriptures: Philippians 4:8, Matthew 18, Colossians 3:13, Proverbs 17:9, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Romans 12:19, 1 Peter 2:23
Connect with Dr. Denise Pass
🌐 denisepass.com 📘 Facebook: @deniseduboispass 📸 Instagram: @thedenisepass 🎵 TikTok: @Dr..denise.pass ▶️ YouTube: @DenisePass-SeeingDeep
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Monday Mindset Reset — helping you overcome the battles of the mind with the Word of God…one renewed thought at a time.