Devotions - Prayer

Bitterness causes even the most intelligent and rational person to lose control and drown
in negativity. Until we uproot our bitterness, we will never overcome any of our other
flaws.

Do not make everything a battle. Do not let the root of bitterness enter your heart, even in
the face of adversity. We must be strong in the Faith and the Spirit of the Lord.

The Root of Bitterness
“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause
trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:15

*The Lord has gone before you and established the path to liberty.
*The Lord IS the way, the truth and the life. Hear the sound of His voice as He calls you
to come out of darkness into light and out of bondage into freedom!!!!
Your righteousness is of Him if you will accept it and live in the reality of redemption.
There are no valid excuses for staying in darkness or bondage, for the Lord IS the way-
maker. The Lord has made a way for you. Come forth into the glorious light.
The victory that overcomes the works is our faith. In order to access the grace of God
you must recklessly believe the truth in spite of circumstance.
*Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the
law of sin and death.

The enemy of our souls has a very specific strategy to destroy relationships.
Whether these relationships are in business, marriage, or friendships, the strategy is the
same. A conflict arises, judgments are made, and feelings are hurt.
What happens next is the defining point of whether the enemy gains a foothold, or the
grace of God covers the wrong.

When a root of bitterness is allowed to be planted and grown, it not only affects that
person, but it also affects all others who are involved. It is like a cancer.
Breaking satan’s foothold requires at least one person to press into God’s grace.
It cannot happen when either party “feels” like it, for none of us will ever feel like
forgiving.
None of us feel like talking when we have been hurt.
Our natural response is to withdraw or lash out at the offending party.

It is only obedience that allows God’s grace to cover the wrongs incurred. This grace
prevents the parties from becoming victims who will seek compensation for their pain.

The next time you are hurt by someone, realize the gravity of the crossroads where you
find yourself.
Choose grace instead of bitterness. Then you will be free to move past the hurt, and a
root of bitterness will not be given opportunity to grow.

Before worshiping God, the priests of ancient Israel practiced an “Inner Court Ritual” in
order to purify themselves. We as believers can also purify our hearts by:
(1) Recognizing sin
(2) Repenting of sin
(3) Relinquishing sin to God
(4) Replacing sin with truth from God’s Word.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own
possession…”1 Peter 2:9

Once we have confessed and repented of our sins, we must relinquish them to God. He
will not violate our free will by taking them from us, so we must choose to hand them
over.
*”As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from
us.”Psalm 103:12

Controlling Anger
1. Recognize the root of your anger (Heb. 12:15)
2. Confess it to God (Prov. 16:7)
3. Make an effort to make things right with the offended (Matt. 5:23-24)
4. Choose to forgive others (Mark 11:25-26)

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty (Proverbs 16:32)

*Forgiveness doesn’t make THEM right, but it makes YOU free!
*Harboring unforgiveness blocks out the goodness of God in our lives. We poisoned
ourselves and finally choked on that poison.

God wants us to be compassionate to others. Even our enemies.

Compassion- A feeling of deep pity for someone who is going through a tough situation,
and having a strong desire to disperse the suffering.

***Compassion is Love in Action.
Compassion is to look past another’s sins.
God want’s us to be people of compassion. We are all sinful, and if Jesus hadn’t have had
compassion we wouldn’t be saved.

Jesus’ ultimate compassion has saved me. We all need Jesus.

We need to bring our friends to Jesus. There are different ways to go about it. But we
need to get them to The Cure (Jesus)!!
Luke 15:20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his
father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced
him, and kissed him”.

Our compassion will push us past our excuses. We need to have compassion for people.

If you will cooperate with the work the Lord is doing in you and in His Body, the Lord
will bring you into a wide place, and you will be released from restrictions that have kept
you from moving forward freely with the flow of His Spirit. Some of these restrictions
have been the result of your interaction with other people, and some restrictions have
been of your own making and choices. Now is the time when you can establish yourself
in greater freedom than you have ever known.
* John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
“Our danger is to water down God’s word to suit ourselves. God never fits His word to
suit me; He fits me to suit His word”.

5 reasons bitterness is called a root:
1) it is hidden. unseen.
2) it prefers darkness to SONlight.
3) it loves dirt.
4) it gets deeper and stronger the longer its allowed to live.
5) it produces its fruit and poisons many others as it continues to spread.

How do I forgive those who hurt me?
1) Pray for those who hurt you. Matthew 5:44.
2) Forgive as you have been forgiven. Colossians 3:13

Father, reveal to me where I may be harboring anything against anyone. Convict my
heart and give me the strength to forgive. All things are possible through you.
Heavenly Father I come to your Throne of blessings and provision and ask that you
strengthen my convictions and confidence in you. Amen