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This week I have been attending a seminar at a local Christian college called Take Back Your Life. My main reason for going was to learn how I can relate to and help others better, but God had other plans. I am learning how to help others, but I am also learning how to help myself.
I am being set free…
or rather I am setting myself free, and you can be set free also! “Now wait a second”, you say. “I’m not in bondage or trapped by anything… I don’t need to be set free.” Well, that is what I thought too. I just didn’t know it because I pushed it so deep inside, that it wasn’t recognizable to me.
And that is how Satan, the father of lies, wants to keep it.
I have been set free of so many things this week, but I feel the Holy Spirit leading me to share about bitterness first. Before you even started reading this post, you may have thought to yourself, “I don’t have a big problem with bitterness” or “I’m not a bitter person, there are just some people who know how to push the wrong buttons”. I ask that you forget those thoughts and open your heart to learn about bitterness.
What is bitterness?
Bitterness is holding onto or showing feelings of strong disdain, dislike, and hatred towards someone for something they have done.
Bitterness is a stronghold of the kingdom of darkness, and will separate you from God, others, and yourself.
There are seven spirits that accompany and reinforce bitterness:
- Unforgiveness
- Resentment
- Retaliation
- Anger
- Hatred
- Violence
- Murder
When someone violates us, we tend to make them evil, along with their sin.
The sin is our enemy; not the individual.
How to identify bitterness in your life:
- People avoid being around you because of your bitter spirit
- You can give a list of reasons why you do not like someone
- Feeling resentment in the pit of your stomach when their name is mentioned
- Going out of your way to avoid someone because of what they have done against you
- Feeling a desire to “get even” with someone
- Gossiping and slandering someone to make them appear evil or sub-standard
How do I resolve bitterness?
Forgive them. To forgive does not mean that you condone someone’s sin, or say that their actions were right. It is a releasing of the individual and/or their actions into the hand of God, Who will bring the proper balance of justice and mercy.
Forgiveness is not an option; It is a command from the Word of God.
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-24
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.” Mark 11:25
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:26
Examine yourself
Have I allowed bitterness into my life? How has this bitterness affected my life and the lives of those around me? Who do I need to forgive and release?
Praying for the release of bitterness:
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for the riches of Your kindness, forbearance, and patience towards me, knowing that Your kindness has led me to repentance. I confess that I have not shown the same kindness and forbearance towards those who have hurt me. Instead, I have hels onto my anger, bitterness, and resentment towards them. Please bring to my mind all the ones that I need to forgive, so I can do that now.
Lord, I choose to forgive (name of person) for (what they have done to hurt me), even though it made me feel (share painful feelings). I choose not to hold any of these things against (name of person) any longer, and release them into Your hands.
I ask You to heal my emotions that have been affected by this bitterness. I thank You for setting me free from the bondage of bitterness towards them. I ask You to bless (name of person).
Amen.
Have you been released from bitterness? I encourage you to glorify God by sharing your testimony.
