The Bible has over 88 scriptures within it that deals with bitterness. I looked up the definition of bitterness and this is what Google says:
“Sharpness of taste; the lack of sweetness.”
Does that describe where you are in life right now? Are you in a place where life lacks sweetness? Where you feel as though every way you look life leads you to sharp corners? When God created you, He created you spirit, body and soul. You are a spirit that consists of a soul (your personality, your will, that makes you – you!) that is incased in a body (your shell). We live in a fallen world, and often life is what people deem “unfair.” Bad things happen to “good” people. We choose how to react to what happens to us, we can choose to become “better”, or we can choose to become “bitter.” I’m not saying to put a “pollyanna” face on, sometimes life sucks and it is okay to admit that, but it is up to us what we choose to do, once we have admitted that we are in a place where life sucks.
Hey, God is not afraid of your honesty! In fact, He WANTS you to be honest! It’s not as if He doesn’t KNOW how your feeling! You can’t hide ANYTHING from God! He is omnipotent. Psalm 139:4 tells us:
“Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.”
God doesn’t want you to come to Him and hide what you are feeling. He wants you to TALK to Him. Let Him meet you right where you are at! Prayer should be like conversing with a dear friend, God WANTS to be THAT friend to you! BE HONEST WITH HIM!
I have had conversations with Him that have gone something like this:
“Father God, I thank You that I can freely come to You and express my feelings! Father, if there be ANYTHING displeasing within me to You, I pray that You would change it! That You would help ME to change! Because Father, right now, life REALLY sucks. And I know that it is Not Your will that I feel this way!”
And then I continue my conversation with Him and tell Him exactly what it is that is on my mind, on my heart, whatever the situation is, I bring it RIGHT to His throne! This is something that God tells us to do, so it is in total line with the Word of God. Jesus even tells us in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I believe Jesus instructed us this way because He knew to do otherwise was to allow bitterness to fill our souls. Bitterness opens up the door to malice and to other spirits that totally go against how the Bible tells us we should think. Philippians 4:8 instructs us:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
It isn’t always easy to get out of a funk, but if you concentrate on the things YOU CAN CHANGE within your life, if you think on the above, bitterness will not be able to take root deep inside the heart of you.
Proverbs 17:22 tells us:
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 tells us:
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Remember, our minds are where the battle takes place over our thought-lives. Often, this feels like exercising a muscle we are not used to working, willingly controlling our thoughts. Romans 12:2 tells us:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
It can really be hard not to allow bitterness to take root – especially if you know you have been wronged, but this is where we need to walk differently than the world… Who of us do not know someone who is bitter? Angry? Full of malice? But what results does that bring forth? Proverbs 15:28 tells us:
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”
Opening up the door to bitterness, stewing in it opens the door to other spirits. The spirit of hatred, the spirit of jealousy, the spirit of murder, to name just a few. Ol’ slewfoot loves it when someone walks in bitterness because he is able to whisper other words of defeat into that person’s ears which opens up the door for depression, hopelessness, suicide, sickness and everything that goes against what Jesus’ will is for their lives. Bitterness divides families, bitterness opens our souls up to a place of darkness where we feel alone, and we begin to believe the lies of the enemy – that God is not with us, that God does not love us, that God does not exist.
ALL OF THOSE STATEMENTS ARE LIES FROM THE PIT OF HELL.
If you don’t remember any other words from this post, remember this – Hell IS a real place made for the devil and his demons. It was not made for people. It is satan’s desire to make you feel unloved. Make you feel alone. Make you believe that God doesn’t care about you. Heck, it is the devil’s desire to make you scoff at the fact that he even exists!
BUT he DOES!
As you read these words, I want you to know that God is reaching out to you right now! He is saying to you:
“(PUT YOUR NAME RIGHT HERE) I love you! You are NOT alone! Cry out to me! Let Me heal you! Let Me reveal Myself to you! I have plans to prosper you NOT to harm you! Plans to give you hope and a future!”
(Read Jeremiah 29:11)
“I love you SO much that I left the glories of Heaven and came down in the form of Man (Jesus) to walk amongst you! To show you, My love! To tell you about My love! I was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sin-less life and died on the cross for forgiveness of YOUR sins because I want You to know that I love you THAT much! Behold, I stand at the door and knock! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
(Read Revelations 3:20)
“It is NOT My will that ANY man should perish!”
(Read 1 Peter 3:9)
“I have given you My Word (the Bible) for you to learn about my love! Won’t you let Me in? Won’t you let Me show you My good and perfect love? I love You! You are NOT alone! I have said I will never leave nor forsake you! I have made you the head and NOT the tail! I am coming back to receive you unto Myself, you only have to turn to Me!”
(Read Deuteronomy 31:6 and 28:13, John 14:3)
As you read these words, God is reaching out to you, wanting to remove those seeds or roots of bitterness and heal your heart. If someone has wronged you, Jesus is asking you to forgive them as He has forgiven you for your sins. It is hard to forgive someone who does not even admit that they have done you wrong, I know – I have been there! I am STILL learning to walk in forgiveness, it is a lesson that we constantly have to submit to over and over and over again! Even the disciples asked Jesus about this in Matthew 18:21-22:
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Jesus asks us to forgive, as He forgives. This is a part of dying to self and it is one of the hardest things to do, sometimes but we are called to forgive. Mark 11:25 tells us:
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Jesus, died on the cross for forgiveness of OUR sins – NOT His. Jesus lived a sin-less life. He died on the cross so that we would be able to have a RIGHT relationship with God the Father. Matthew 6:14-15 tells us:
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Unforgiveness opens the door to bitterness. This is one of the reasons why forgiving is important. Forgiving someone is healing – even if they are not looking for you to forgive them! You can forgive someone in the quietness of your prayer room or anywhere you are praying.
FORGIVENESS FREES YOU FROM BITTERNESS TAKING ROOT!
Someone reading this needs to make the choice to forgive someone(s). Let’s do it together! I know it is hard, but God brought you to this post for a reason! The reason is – He wants to heal your heart! He wants to free you from bitterness taking root! I promise you! As hard as it *may* be to get the words out, you WILL feel the change deep within your heart for praying this! You only have to make the decision to do so! Let’s do it together!
“Father God, I thank You that I can be ME with You! I thank You that I don’t have to put up walls of pretense! Lord, I am hurting. I am angry, sad, discouraged, upset!”
(OR PUT WHATEVER YOU ARE FEELING RIGHT HERE! SAY IT OUT LOUD)
“Lord, I release _______________________”
(PUT THEIR NAME(S) RIGHT THERE)
“Father, even though they have not asked for forgiveness, I choose on my own free-will to forgive them! Help me please to walk in that forgiveness! You tell me if I don’t forgive people that You will not forgive me! I desire Your forgiveness for my sins, Father! Therefore, I choose from my heart, to forgive ______________ for the hurt I feel they have caused me! I release them! I forgive them! Father, I ask that You heal my heart! I ask that You remove any roots of bitterness in my heart. Heal me, Father. I ask that You replace bitterness, hatred, contempt, anger, ill-will and malice for that person(s) with Your love. I choose to walk in Your love. I choose to do Your good and perfect will in my life. I give my life to You. I renew (or commit) my life to You. I accept the forgiveness You have purchased on the cross for forgiveness of my sins and ask You to come into my heart – heal it and reside in it by Your Spirit. I accept You as my Savior and invite You into my heart to be my Lord. Forgive me, change me, heal me. Abide in me. I thank You for doing so, in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.”
Bitterness of soul cannot abide in you if Jesus is there. Darkness cannot abide with His light. There is peace in Him. There is joy in Him and there is an INCREDIBLE love that can ONLY be experienced in making Jesus Savior and Lord over Your life… There may be many times in your walk where you have to be aware of bitterness taking root – we live in a sinful, fallen world, people disappoint ALL the time – but we choose how to respond to disappointment. We choose whether or not we will grow “bitter” or “better” in Jesus. Forgiveness frees you from bitterness! I pray you ALWAYS choose to bring your disappointments and hurts to the foot of the cross and enable Jesus to minister to you. He loves you SO much and He is with you EVERY step of the way – in this life AND in the eternal life to follow once this life is over. And THAT is something to rejoice in! GOD LOVES YOU – ALWAYS!
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