Proverbs 24:29Don’t say to anyone, “I’ll get back at you for what you did to me. I’ll make you pay for what you did!”Proverbs Daily is a reader-supported publication. All posts are free, but all donations help spread the message. When you see the word “upgrade,” you’re simply invited to help me make the sacred positively contagious...thank you in advance for becoming a free or paid subscriber.OK admit it… Payback feels good, don’t it? 😏 You can be honest — it’s just you and me…and thousands of others that’ll catch this episode, and we’re not paying attention to them… But ‘payback’...that little spark of satisfaction, that “just got even” energy… feels good for a minute.But you know — payback always costs more than you think. And this verse picks right up on how we all feel at times(Look at how it reads from the Message Version)“Don’t say to anyone, ‘I’ll get back at you for what you did to me. I’ll make you pay for what you did!”It’s that whole “I’ll make you pay” vibe that stood out to me! I had to come back to this passage and talk about it again.💬 Why We’re Back HereWe actually touched this verse last month, but I’m running it back today for two reasons.👉 Reason #1: Kindness is always cheaper than revenge..Big Shout out to my guys from Royal Ruckus. Chunjay aka Jamey Bennett They sent me a package — shirt, stickers, buttons, poster — all love. But it wasn’t just the gift that got me… it was the gesture. They asked me to feature on a song about forgiveness. Hip hop is loud on revenge — quiet on forgiveness. So this? This was different.As I held that package, I thought:“This isn’t payback. This is paying it forward.”And then I wondered… What if one day, we as a human species finally got it — and started paying kindness forward instead of paying people back? That thought right there… that’s the spark that made me return to this verse.Yep. Kindness is always cheaper than revenge. You don’t lose when you forgive.🧠 Reason #2: Payback Is a Trap Disguised as PowerThe world says “never forget…get even.” God says “let it go…get free.”Payback will keep you locked in a cycle — bitterness on repeat. But forgiveness cuts the loop. Real strength isn’t in getting even. Real strength is in letting go.Forgiveness doesn’t let someone off the hook — it removes the hook from you.🪝💥 RememberKindness always moves you forward into abundance, not backwards into debts of regret.PrayerLord, teach me to trade payback for peace and freedom.Today’s ChallengeThink of one person who’s been living rent-free in your heart. Don’t wait for an apology. Don’t rehearse the pain again. Pray for them. Bless them.Also for a bonus, check out Royal Ruckas’ new song Wonder Why (feat. DJ Sean P, Fred Lynch & Soup the Chemist) it’s worth the listen!About the AuthorFred Lynch is a creative communicator, author, and Christian Hip Hop pioneer. To learn more about Fred and what he’s up to now…click here or you can find him in all the socials by searching the handle: heyfredlynch📱Experience Proverbs Daily by Subscribing!Ready to receive daily wisdom directly on your phone?Go to proverbsdaily.org for the app or just click that Subscribe button right now!Be Wise and Be Well...peace.Thanks for reading Proverbs Daily! This post is public so feel free to share it.
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