What About: Forgiveness And Bitterness

Definition Of Bitter

Difficult or distasteful to accept, admit, or bear: the bitter truth; bitter sorrow.

Proceeding from or exhibiting strong animosity: a bitter struggle; bitter foes.

Resulting from or expressive of severe grief, anguish, or disappointment: cried bitter tears.

Marked by resentment or cynicism.

Definition:
Stop blaming or grant forgiveness; I.E. "She cannot forgive him for forgetting her birthday"

• The Down Low (DL)

Lets face it, we all know I'm perfect! Don't we? Perhaps perfect is too strong a word? How about a fallen human, a sinner? Yeah, that's more like it. I'm going to be perfectly honest with you, I struggle with forgiveness and bitterness. But God has really been convicting me of this lately. I'll see one of you lovely girls' blogs speaking about this, or God helps me to see it that way. Want to know a secret? Sometimes it makes me mad! Yes! Mad! But conviction can often times do that, its supposed to do that. Its called: conscience.

That still small voice in your head saying, "What about you? Have you forgiven that person? Or are you still too bitter?" I was reading my Bible and came across this verse, every time I feel angry and bitter at that person, I recite it in my head.

"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord, looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up cause trouble and by this many become defiled." Hebrews 12: 14-15

Pretty good verse huh? Yeah, that's what I thought too. I realized that the anger, the jealousy and the un-forgiveness was turning me bitter. Did you know that even a 110 year old woman can beautiful? Yes! Beautiful on the inside where it counts. I would rather be an old woman in her mid 100's and be happy, and forgive others, than an old bitty who can't forgive and does nothing but make people around her miserable. That second person is who I will become if I don't learn to forgive people. Bitterness can creep up on you! Before you know it, your growling and angry and nobody wants to be around you.

• How can we forgive the un-forgivable?

First off, there really isn't anyone who is truly unforgivable. There are only those people we think are unforgivable. The only way we can ever forgive someone is with God's help. Pray that He would convict you every time you are not forgiving someone. He will! You may not like it at times, but He will help you! Also, do me a favor, try memorizing that verse above in Hebrews and recite it in your head any time your struggling with forgiving that person. You will struggle, and that's okay! Just make sure you cling to God's hand when you struggle, don't lean on yourself and your ability to forgive; It won't work! Only Jesus can give true forgiveness. With forgiveness comes peace. A peace that your doing the right thing. I know its not easy, especially when that person does something to hurt you deeply. They don't deserve forgiveness! Right? WRONG! We didn't deserve God's forgiveness, we didn't deserve Jesus' dying on the cross for our sins! But He did die on the cross, and God has forgiven me. Don't you think we can forgive someone? Its not like we  are dying on the cross for their sins! Think about that for a minute, and you will see that you can forgive that person, your forgiveness pails in comparison to Jesus' sacrifice. What we did is nothing compared to what they may have done to you. Face it, its time that you let go of past trespasses and hurts, its time you forgave.

• Bible Verses To Help You

"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
 

"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
1 John 4:8

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice"
James 3:16


Have you forgiven?

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