The Bitter Truth
For years I have warned people about being unforgiving or becoming angry. I’ve explained the destruction when it becomes bitterness and you allow it to take root in your soul. It seems everyone ‘Amens’ until it happens to them, and then “it’s different.”
The bible warns us to be careful with what we say. Not to allow any corrupt thing to come out of our mouths, but rather say what will be a blessing to those who hear you. We should never be bitter, angry, or mad and never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. The Bible also warns, that a spring cannot produce good and bad water, neither should praises and curses come from the same mouth. AND, the most important warning in Ephesians 4:30, “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
A few years back I had some sort of a variegated privet in front of my house. For years we cut it back because it would grow taller than the house. After remodeling recently, it had to go. We cut it all the way down and covered it with black tarp and pine straw. Within a few months it was several feet tall. Why, because the life of that shrub was in its root. Until we dug up ALL the roots, it continued to grow back.
According to the Bible, bitterness is a root and a means by which many are defiled (Hebrews 12:15). Bitterness is a root that grows in the soul, it is spiritual poison. Bitterness is often defined as resentful cynicism that results in an intense antagonism or hostility toward others.
Many people say they’re not angry or spiteful, but bitterness is more than just that. Bitterness is like a swift moving cancer. It divides and grows uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invading nearby parts of the body, even killing its host. Whether anyone has ever witnessed your bitterness or not, does not matter. Many people have the ability to hide their feelings and emotions, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Joyce Meyers is the first to admit her personal experience of how damaging it can be to live with bitterness and unforgiveness. She references bitterness as “it’s like taking poison and hoping your enemy will die.”
If you have bitterness, it must be cut off at the root and removed from your soul. You must make a choice to let go of all your bottled up feelings, let go of all the hurt and ask God to forgive you for holding that poison in your heart and ask for His Holy Spirit to minister to your soul.
If you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior and are dealing with bitterness, anger or unforgiveness, pray this prayer
“Lord, help me to remember that You said that if I forgive those who sin against me, that You will forgive me. But if I refuse to forgive others, You will not forgive me. I know I’m saved, not because of anything I’ve done, but by Your gift of Grace through faith. Jesus, I ask You now to forgive those who I feel have hurt me, used me, or caused me pain. Forgive me for my bitterness. I ask You to send the antidote of Your Holy Spirit to kill this poison that I have held, so I can produce the Evidence of Your control in my life.”
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