NO ONE LIKES TO HEAR THIS! However, “Bitterness is Ugly”!

One of the most destructive of human emotions can be the feelings and expressions of bitterness!

It can clandestinely creep it’s way into our lives. Sometimes we don’t even know how much it consumes our thought life and feelings!

Before we know it, we are captured in the claws of the sin of unforgiveness. And, no matter how spiritual we may attempt to be, we gain little growth when bitterness and blaming choke out the green vine of maturity.

Perhaps it starts with hurt feelings over what was said, another’s actions, or even a lack of response. We mull it over, and over. It festers in our gut. Our spirit can be crushed. We can get hard feelings about the person that we “feel” offended us.

Perhaps those who have been hurt want to “get even” at the other person. Before long, hurt feelings can lead to a host of other actions, including slander against the offending person, or avoidance of that person.

The hurt accomplished may not even be recognized by the offender. They may not even have a clue as to how someone one is reacting to their remarks or actions; yet the offendee’s bitterness digs deeper and deeper into their life.

Holding a grudge against another can be so devastating to some that it affects their health.

Anger can be a result of bitterness. When angry, adrenaline and other hormones are released into the bloodstream, causing high blood pressure and a faster beating heart.

Depression, ulcers, heart attack, and stroke have also been linked to those that are controlled by the stress of bitterness and unforgiveness.

Bitterness in a person creates a hard heart, an unteachable spirit and it radiates a prickly, touchy exterior. People deeply rutted in bitterness and past disappointments rarely will hear words of warning or loving correction.

Not forgiving, and not attempting to forget the offense, can also lead people to do or say things to the offender that they would never think of doing or saying. Bitterness can indeed bind a person’s life. It drives people away.

If you allow bitterness and resentment and a critical spirit to grow in your life, you will lose the usefulness God wanted to express through you and your inspiration from the LORD will be limited.

You can’t keep complaining about and resenting your lot in life, and criticising and murmuring about things that God or others have done to you, and keep God’s Holy Spirit resting you at the same time. You just can’t do it!

The LORD dwells in the praises of His people, and He draws near to us when we draw near to Him, “offering the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name,” Psalm 22:3.

All people have wrongs done to them sometime in their lives that hurt their feelings. Some let them roll off their shoulders and go on with their life; others stew and never let go of what another has done to them.

The Bible has much to say about bitterness and forgiving one another. Here is a glimpse of what is said in the Bible:

God says not to be bitter and hold a grudge!

“It’s not that easy to not be bitter,” is very often said. This is true, but no sin is easy to stop!

In order to have a healthy life, and a good relationship with God, bitterness has to be halted! Stopped!

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour [to complain, utter loud noises], and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice,” Ephesians 4:31.

Forgive those who wronged you.

“Take heed to yourselves: If your brother trespasses against you, warn him; and if he repents, forgive him,” Luke 17:3.

Christ knows all you did; yet He still has forgiven all you have done, if you are saved! (John 3:16).

“And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you,” Ephesians 4:32.

 

In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ^©

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” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
Global Prayer Rooms

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Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.

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