on guard

[Norah63]

we know that bitterness should have no place in the christian heart.
How can we best guard against that, thoughts?

 

[probinson]

I think one of the keys to avoiding bitterness is to allow the Love of God to reign in our hearts. 1 Corinthians 13:5 talks about paying no attention to a suffered wrong, and understanding that the Love of God inside of us empowers us to do that helps to ensure that no bitterness can enter our heart.

Also, I think being quick to forgive is another key to ensuring no bitterness takes root in our hearts. Forgiveness isn't always easy. In fact, it usually fights against our flesh, because in forgiveness we give up our rights. We give up our right to be angry, our right to demand an apology, our right to retaliate in kind. But the result is freedom. When we refuse to forgive, we are held captive by our offenses and it opens the door for bitterness to take root. When we forgive, that captivity is broken and we become free.

Neither of these things is easy. Our flesh likes to cry out and scream when we've been offended or someone does us wrong. But the Love of God inside of each of us empowers us to pay no attention to those wrongs and can prevent bitterness from taking root in our hearts, if we'll let it.

 

[Frogster]

we know that bitterness should have no place in the christian heart.
How can we best guard against that, thoughts?

Bitterness comes, when people are not in grace.


Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

 

[Norah63]

Good advice, thanks.
As bitterness has roots that can dig into a heart, will the forgiveness uproot, or is more action involved?
Just pondering this as so many posts or threads can show bitterness seeking its way in our christian conversations. One way is for threads to just be closed, yet why should we not be able to pull togeather and help overcome, instead of accepting defeat?
In Grace? could you elaberate?

 

[probinson]

Good advice, thanks.
As bitterness has roots that can dig into a heart, will the forgiveness uproot, or is more action involved?

If only it were that simple...

I think that the term root is used because we understand how plants and trees have roots and we can see how those roots behave.

Plant a tree. Then uproot it tomorrow. Simple, right? But plant a tree, let it grow for 20 years and then try to uproot it. That's a bit harder. It's not that you can't uproot it, but it will take much more effort to uproot the 20-year old tree vs. the tree that's been in the soil for a day. Not only that, but you may have to rip up a good portion of your yard to get all the roots that have spread.

I believe the longer we allow bitterness to sit in our hearts, the deeper those roots go, the harder it is to eliminate it, the more impact it will have on us. That's why I try to not allow unforgiveness and offense to sit in my heart. We should be quick to forgive and hard to offend. God's Love empowers us to do both of those things.

 

[gideons300]

we know that bitterness should have no place in the christian heart.
How can we best guard against that, thoughts?

We are to do with it the same thing we are to do with all other attacks of the enemy, amen?

First, and more fail here than anywhere else, we must identify the source of the temptation. It is NOT us, but the enemy. If we have, in our past, had a propensity to bitterness, it is here that satan will attack. When we finally believe tat the old us is dead, and we are truly born again, with pure cores, pure hearts, satan comes and whispers to us in our voice that we deserve being a bit bitter. It is then, right then, that we can stand against the thought for in the temptation is embedded the assumption that we ARE bitter and still the same old person. In order for us to accept the temptation and give into it, we must first lower our shield of faith that it is no more us that live, but Christ who now lives in us.

Refuse to lower the shield, and this is resisting satan steadfast in the faith...and the result? He will flee from you.

I pray this helps.

Gideon

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat. That part of the 60's song reminds me also of the demonstraters protesting the cutting down of the rain forests that grow in the area where I live. They would tie themselves to the trees so that it would not be possible to remove the trees.
Bitterness is something that ties to people's hearts and needs to be dug out. As some have said the roots can grow very deep and that is where prayer is needed. It is said that it takes 3 weeks to change a habit and honest prayer for someone who bitterness has taken root against can work wonders. Forgiveness heals the wounding, not as acceptance of behaviors but rather as what God has done for us in forgiving us all our sins. Remove them as far as east is from west. In that way one obtains that which God has given for ourselves and others. Forgive us our trespasses daily as we forgive those who trespass against us, then acknowledge it is done when those things come up because we are seated above that and are not tied to earthly things.

 

[Frogster]

Good advice, thanks.
As bitterness has roots that can dig into a heart, will the forgiveness uproot, or is more action involved?
Just pondering this as so many posts or threads can show bitterness seeking its way in our christian conversations. One way is for threads to just be closed, yet why should we not be able to pull togeather and help overcome, instead of accepting defeat?
In Grace? could you elaberate?

Well, i think generally the hebrews verse was about bitterness in ones life.

 

[Norah63]

Don't lower the shield, I like that Gid.
Yes roots can be the real problem, that quick forgiveness is key I'm sure.
I have heard others say that about how it takes a month of steady change to break a habit. So our love of the truth must daily take first place in our mouth to speak the words that Jesus gave us in the model prayer.
I do pray for our government leaders because the way some things are going it causes frustration, not exactly bitterness, and the evil that terrorists are doing to Christians, makes it harder to ask for their redemption, but I know it is best to do that.
Then when I see the church as a whole not being able to come together because of such a little thing as repentance, and grace...... it baffles me.

 

[Frogster]

Don't lower the shield, I like that Gid.
Yes roots can be the real problem, that quick forgiveness is key I'm sure.
I have heard others say that about how it takes a month of steady change to break a habit. So our love of the truth must daily take first place in our mouth to speak the words that Jesus gave us in the model prayer.
I do pray for our government leaders because the way some things are going it causes frustration, not exactly bitterness, and the evil that terrorists are doing to Christians, makes it harder to ask for their redemption, but I know it is best to do that.
Then when I see the church as a whole not being able to come together because of such a little thing as repentance, and grace...... it baffles me.

well, don't let it bother ya sis, doctrine has been debated for centuries by theologians, and regular people too.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

we know that bitterness should have no place in the christian heart.
How can we best guard against that, thoughts?

thankfulfness

 

[Gregory Thompson]

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

~ James chapter 3

to guard against this .. pick to express the wisdom that comes from above . and note that wisdom that comes from bitterness .. may seem to make a good point .. but is disqualified by virtue of the way it runs its race .. or tongue .

 

[FireWithin]

What helps me most is keeping in mind that I am a very sinful man. If a person offends me to bring me bitterness, I TRY to recall that I too have offenses in my name.

I try to remember that every opportunity that comes against us is an opportunity for God or an opportunity for the flesh. If I choose to take the opportunity for bitterness and offer praise and prayer in return, I have taken the Kingdom of Heaven by force.

 

[Norah63]

Staying thankful does turn the thoughts in better direction.
Guess just reading these posts helps me to know that our diffrent ways of looking at the same truth, doesnt change it a bit.