How to Overcome Bitterness

For years I have struggled with the root of bitterness. Growing up in an unhealthy environment I often resented my parents for all that they had put me through. Although I felt that I had a reason to hate them there is never a good enough reason to hold resentment or bitterness against anyone because ultimately like Joyce Meyers says you are drinking straight poison.

Bitterness after awhile begins to take control and you know that there is something wrong with you that there is a reason why you can’t feel and or love God, but sometimes you do not even know why. How easy and how common is it to become bitter? Well I think scripture can answer us on this one. Hebrews 12:15 “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and DEFILE MANY.” I believe that many people fall easily into the root of bitterness and when we are bitter we feel like we are in the right.

Last year when my friend James pointed out that I had to love my mother I thought to myself she does not deserve it. For me to love a woman I hated and resented since the days she started hurting me both physically and emotionally was nothing that the world would have taught or expected me to do. We are taught to get even but as we are getting even we are weakening our soul and our spirit. Trust me at that time in my life I hated my life and I could not love anyone. But as I cleared out my closet of hatred I noticed that I felt better, more free and for the first time in a long time I began to love God and love others because I realized that love was genuine. I even began to love my mother and the miracle and the freedom that it caused me makes me want to speak to anyone about the unawareness and sickness of bitterness..

Bitterness causes its victims to be an easy target and to be used in wrong ways. We will speak evil against others and we will be captive to sin. Acts 8:23 states “For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin” and Romans 3:14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." Not only are we hurting the ones that we would love if given the chance which is our family and friends by speaking evil against them we are hurting ourselves. We are bonded to wickedness and jealousy. Even though we are believers or unbelievers we are walking advertisements for destruction.

So how do we get rid of the root of bitterness when we realize that it is there? We admit it to the Lord and he casts our sin behind us. A good verse that demonstrates God’s power in removing bitterness is Isaiah 38:17 New American Standard Bible (©1995) "Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness; It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.” When I turned to God about my bitterness with my mother and finally opened up myself to doing so I was freed. It took a lot of time, correction and courage to get out of the pit that I had dug myself into but God led me into green pastures, into his rest. The first three verses of Psalm 23 show what I experienced after letting go of bitterness with my mother and other times that I had held onto it.
1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

How many of us fall into losing God’s grace and love and redemption by turning our eyes to the wrongs someone has done to us. Yes people fail us yes people are wrong at times but so are we if we hold onto the root of bitterness. Jesus never said it would be easy to love your neighbor as thyself but he did say that he would restore and recharge our souls. Jesus is the way the truth and the life, and there is nothing that will ever again separate me from the love he offers me. I will not take hold to bitterness and strife but take hold to the one that can make it all better with a touch of his wonderful and holy hand. Our creator is more powerful then we can think or even imagine I pray and hope that you can experience the same freedom that I experience with Him each and every day. Each day is a new chance so I hope that today will be your second chance to experience Gods restoration and forgiveness.

We Were Made to Be Princess and Princesses of a Kingdom

Life here on earth is an adventure like a Prince trying to capture a great treasure. JESUS IS OUR TREASURE! Seeing our Lord! We will have to go through obstacles because like every great hidden treasure darkness does not want us to find it. The truth is joy, peace, love belongs to us. When we say yes to Christ we inherit what belongs to Him which is complete peace and joy. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Darkness will want to destroy it because it is jealous but that is because Lucifer is an angel that wants revenge. Since he can not be in the kingdom of heaven and be a part of the Glory of God he does not want us to enjoy and experience it. But the truth is God’s saints will inherit and reign. “He’ll speak against the Most High God. He’ll treat God’s people badly. (he will oppress the saints) He will try to change the time and laws that were given by God. God’s people will be handed over to Him for three and a half years. But the court will open. And the power of that king will be taken away from him. It will be completely destroyed forever. Every ruler will worship and obey him.” Daniel 7:25 and 26. We will reign and triumph over our greatest enemy. God's people were made to be princess and princesses. Thank God for the glory and riches of Heaven.

The Spirit Filled Life

There have been many moments in my life that have been both painful and amazing but the most impacting and most cherishing moments are the times that I am walking very close to the Lord. His heart and mine working together and loving and fighting for the same things. John 15:4-5 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (NIV) When we abide in Jesus we are filled with a light that is so attractive to others. A light that comes from the Lord and we have to do everything to make sure our light is always burning that we are constantly communicating with our Lord. Matthew 5:16 (New International Version)”In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Never be afraid of being sold out to God and doing good things for others. People will recognize us by our love. John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Through our love for others we will give things that the Lord will prompt us to give. We will die to our selves but we will inherit a treasure worth fighting for!!
-We are transformed like butterflies when we let love come to our hearts
-We are to be like angels in a messed up world showing forth light like Jesus

More Than Conquerors Despite Oppression

Today I was struggling with fear and anxiety I was honestly scared that I was not going to get the job that I really want. Usually in the past when I had stress I would immediately turn to food, and the idea crossed my mind but I decided to take a walk instead. While I was walking I told the Lord that I feel like I won’t get a job that I will be a failure and that things would not work out, I admitted my weakness to the Lord and He then spoke to me one of the most amazing scriptures when you feel like you will not make it in life. Romans 8:31. “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (NIV) How can we fail when we have a loving savior walking with us? God says we are more than even winners, not only are we going to make it or get by we are going to triumph. Hebrews 8:36 and 37 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. “We will face trials of many kinds we will have difficulties but in these situations we will win, God will answers our prayers and will be right beside us. An amazing testimony of God answering prayers is a 14 month old child that I had prayed for a couple of days ago she was on Amber alert and the man that was with her was dangerous after praying the next day she was in the safety of her loving parents. How faithful and wonderful our Father in Heaven is if we just turn to Him.