what holding on to bitterness can do to our hearts , minds and souls .
Matthew 6:14-15 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 .
Let ’ s break bitterness down . I want to walk through the whole spectrum of bitterness ;
What to do when it has developed .
How does it come to be ? What to do when it has developed ? Lastly , how does it come with us into relationships and what we can do to move from bitterness to forgiveness .
Something to remember is none of us are safe from bitterness . The enemy will try and make us hold onto anything bad in our lives and make us dwell on it and never forgive . None of us are immune to bitterness taking root . Never feel like you are above or stronger then bitterness , because the enemy uses personal tactics to get us to fall , and if we are not completely focused on our relationship with God , we will fall into the traps . We are all human and with that comes our sin nature : something the enemy takes advantage of . This is why I warn against thinking we will never struggle with bitterness because anyone can be deceived . In the same way , if you do struggle with holding on to bitterness , you can be freed from this . The good news is that Christ is victorious and can free you from the bondage bitterness holds you in .
HOW IT STARTS ?
Bitterness doesn ’ t just come to be on its own . It is grown , much like a flower or plant . It starts out small , very small usually , like a seed . A seed is planted and time and ignoring it help water it . Let me give you a more practical way to see it .
Seeds cane be symbolized in things like : jealousy , regret , envy , unresolved anger , resentment , and disappointments .
Water is represented in ignoring the problems , and believing lies of the enemy which helps the seed grow .
Sun is unforgiveness , which helps the seeds not only grow , but blossom
Once the bitterness has bloomed , its roots are deep and spread wide .
Once bitterness is developed , there are ways to combat it . The enemy ’ s goal of bitterness is to harden your heart . It makes trying to get out very hard because you do not necessarily ‘ feel ’ like it . The feelings are strong and overwhelming which is a way the enemy uses to keep you in it . Always remember that our feelings are not trustworthy , they can be deceived . When we are talking about bitterness , this could not be more true .
There are some Bible verses that help us- think of them as remedies to bitterness . As we focus our minds and hearts on these verses , it is important that we are in the Word daily . Like I said , our feelings may not be eager to start softening .
John 16:33 “ I have told you these things , so that in me you may have peace . In this world you will have trouble . But take heart ! I have overcome the world .”
The first thing we need to fo-