I’ve always been an observer. I watch what people do and don’t do. I think about the things I want to learn from others. I also think about things they do that I don’t want to do. I am always noticing.
One thing I’ve noticed, as I’ve grown up, is that many of the older women that I’ve known most of my life…who were moms to kids around my age and have now become more of a friend level with me…is a lot of bitterness. I have often been shocked at the amount of bitterness I see in some of these people I grew up admiring.
Bitterness is like a rot.
The bitterness I’ve seen in some people has made it so I rarely want to speak with them anymore. Being around bitterness is very repelling to me. I have learned that I literally recoil when I come around a bitter person. It’s like my spirit feels that and wants nothing to do with it. It’s almost like reaching a hand out and touching something really hot, and you yank your hand back and think, “I’m never touching that again.” Have you ever felt this way?
Being led by bitterness will only lead you deeper into the grave. This year we want to see God resurrect our dead or stagnant places. In order to experience that life, you must cut off all bitter roots.
Bitter roots are like the stakes and rope holding down a hot air balloon. Until those are removed, it cannot really fly. The best hot air balloon experience is the one when you are freely floating around, high in the air. Experiencing, what I imagine, would be such freedom.
We must become untethered.
Bitterness is also like a poison. You drink it and slowly die. It comes on slow and lingers. Bitterness is death.
Today, I encourage you to take an honest inventory of yourself. Have you unknowingly developed some bitterness in your life?
Take a moment, close your eyes, and ask God to show you if you have any bitter places. Remember, He turns the bitter waters sweet…so don’t be afraid of this process.
Once you’ve asked, if there was anything He brought to mind, don’t question it or try to make excuses…instead, hand it to the Lord…ask Him to forgive you, while you forgive whoever you’re feeling bitter towards, then ask God to fill that space inside of you with His healing honey.
And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27
Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:15
365 Days in the Presence 