Future Focus Present Faithfulness Series Pt 11
“Uprooting Bitter Roots 4”
Hebrews identifies three deadly infections that critically cripple the church. God calls the entire Christian community to guard against their spread in the community.
1. Guard against anyone falling short of God’s enabling grace
2. Guard against bitter roots
I. The character of bitterness
A. Definition
Bitterness describes the presence of negative thoughts and emotions in the soul toward those I hold responsible for an actual or perceived offense intentionally or unintentionally inflicted upon me or someone I care about.
These negative and destructive thought and emotions can be directed toward God, myself or others. Whoever I deem responsible for failure to live up to my expectations, didn’t come through for me or caused me discomfort becomes the object of my negative thoughts and emotions. It could be God, myself or other people. Bitter roots develop due to the failure to properly address wounds and offenses. Wounds and offenses are unavoidable – bitterness is.
God instructs us all to passionately “see to it” that we do. All of us must passionately guard against the spread of bitter roots in the Christian community.
B. Description
Bitterness is like an infected wound.
Bitterness is like a polluted stream.
Bitterness is like an aggressive plant that takes over the garden.
C. Characteristics from Hebrews 12:15
…seeing to it that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled Hebrews 12:15
1. Bitterness is a community issue
2. Bitterness is distasteful and poisonous
3. Bitterness begins underground
4. Bitterness eventually surfaces
5. Bitterness entangles us
6. Bitterness defiles others
II. The cause of bitterness is pride
The bitter plants of negative and destructive thoughts and emotions toward God, myself or others flourishes in the soil of self-centeredness or pride. The selfish focus of “me and mine” becomes the perfect environment for the germination and proliferation of destructive bitter roots. Scripture clearly traces the source of all relational meltdown and dysfunction to selfish ambition and bitter jealousy arising from selfish pride; energized by the world, the flesh and the devil.
III. The consequences of bitterness
Bitterness creeps its way into every person’s life. There is no shortage of stories illustrating its devastating effects on the kingdom of God over the centuries. Its destruction can be traced all the way back to the very first family. God counseled Cain (Adam and Eve’s firstborn son) to beware how he dealt with his negative thoughts and bitter jealousy toward his brother Abel.
God counseled him to master the temptation to harbor those negative feelings toward another.
He ignored the counsel and it quickly led to murder – the ultimate expression of bitterness.
Bitterness has severe consequences on the giver and the receiver. It destroys churches. It destroys families. It ruins marriages. It severs relationships. It ravages spiritual, mental and emotional health as well as physical health. Paul indicated that a failure to forgive makes us vulnerable to Satan’s schemes.
But whom you forgive anything, I also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 2Cor 2:10
An unforgiving spirit is like a hot coal. The longer and tighter it is held, the deeper the burn. Stanley
IV. The cure of bitterness
A. Prevention of bitterness
Prevention starts with a decision to apply the inoculation, the vaccine. It is like that stuff that you can spread on the garden to prevent the germinations of weeds. It doesn’t work once the plants become established. It was developed to prevent germination. Here are four decisions we must make. They are the core of what it means to be a follower of Christ. They were the foundations of everything Jesus did.
1. Fully trust God
2. Sacrificially serve people
3. Completely forgive those who offend me
4. Genuinely bless those who offend me
The continual attention to these four things will prevent the germination of bitter roots no matter how slight or severe the offense. But what do we do if about already established roots?
B. Cure for bitterness
If you are a Christian, the primary biblical response to offense is love and forgiveness. Jesus entrusted His life to God. Jesus sacrificed His life for the offenders. He not only dismissed our debt but lavished undeserved blessing upon us in spite of the offense. We are called to do the same thing.
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9
Over and over again, the Scriptures prescribe a new way to relate to one another. Love for one another and even our enemies is the ultimate evidence of a true follower of Christ.
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— Colossians 3:8-10
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Col 3:12-17
This kind of fruit grows out of the soil of humble trust in the father’s love and care.
This kind of fruit grows out of the soil of service to the needs of others.
The failure to forgive the offenses of others is a serious offense in itself. In fact, Scripture indicates it is unforgivable.
Following an accurate diagnosis, there is a six-step antibiotic that effectively eradicates bitterness and builds up the immunity in the soil of your life to fight any further infection or infestation. As you will notice, many of the preventative elements are the same as the curative elements. They serve both as vaccine and antibiotic.
1. Honestly examine your life for bitter roots (detection)
Because bitterness can mask itself as something else, it is imperative that we carefully identify its presence. It can often masquerade as righteous anger, standing up for what is right, justifiable response, tough love, self preservation, our spiritual gifting. Jesus had all of these and was never known by his negative reaction to life even when He had to get tough on occasion.
He was known for His gentle spirit, not His angry spirit. Allowed to propagate, these bitter roots will eventually break the surface and manifest.
a) Look for the bitter and poisonous surface plants
Observe the outward expressions of negative thoughts and emotions.
Be aware of a constant struggle with anger, negative attitudes, hurtful actions and words that persistently slip past the guard on our mouth. Are we continually saying hurtful things and having to go back and apologize later? Eventually, we will get the reputation as a “hot head”, an angry person, “short fuse”, negative person. How do others perceive us? Are we known for our encouragement or our criticism? Do people seek us out or avoid us? Scripture devotes significant space to exposing negative thoughts and emotions toward others and encouraging positive ones.
…enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying…Gal 5:20-21
…being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful… Rom 1:29-31
Jesus made it clear that unaddressed bitter roots in the soul eventually manifest on the surface.
The conversation of our mouth will ultimately reveal the condition and contents of our soul.
The things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man… Matthew 15:18-20
We must do more than try to just control our words. That is like trying to control the weeds in our yard by only cutting them off at the surface. It is much more effective to remove the entire root system. Bitter plants on the surface (words, attitudes and actions) confirm bitter roots underground.
b) Look for a controlling spirit
Failure to properly address hurtful past wounds will drive us to expend excessive energy preventing wounds in the present by controlling our environment. Like favoring the twisted ankle or the sore shoulder we will overly compensate to protect open wounds. Listen carefully.
We cannot prevent offenses. We cannot prevent painful circumstances. Emotional self-protection by controlling others is futile. Self-promotion is repulsive. The end result is continual frustration and bitterness at those who defy our attempt to control people and life to protect ourselves from the pain of living in a fallen world. Until we entrust our souls to the “Blessed Controller of all Things”, the “Faithful Creator”, our life energy will be absorbed in the futile exercise of trying to prevent the unpreventable.
c) Identify sensitivity
Are we easily offended. Easily hurt. Overly sensitive to certain things. These may be a sign of a bitter root, an infected open wound. Completely healed wounds don’t hurt when touched.
Unaddressed wounds fester and continually cause pain and are super sensitive. If the mere mention of an offender’s name brings back a fresh round of negative thoughts and painful emotions, the infection remains. If memories of a particular event continue to cause extreme distress, we may require further healing. We need to apply the cure. We need a fresh round of antibiotics to get rid of the bitter infection once and for all.
d) Look for a self-centered focus (pride)
Remember! Where there is selfishness, there will be bitterness. Where there is bitterness, there will be pride. Is it about me or is it about serving others? Is it about my way or God’s way?
Do things always have to be about me? Does my conversation always center on me, my feelings, my needs, my pain, my desires? Do I need constant reaffirmation and attention?
Chances are, the problem is pride which becomes the perfect breeding ground for bitterness.
If it is always about me, I will always be offended by those who don’t meet my expectations.
If I expect others (my spouse, my friends, my children, my parents, my coworkers) to fill the void only God can fill, I will continually be disappointed and offended and angry.
I will continually fight with bitterness toward others. That goes for personal expectations of myself. If my sense of well being is dependent on my personal performance or abilities, I will continually be disappointed in myself and harbor negative feelings toward myself.
Depression is really negative thoughts and emotions turned inward.
If I expect God to make life comfortable and protect me from the difficulties of life in a fallen world or do things my way, I will continually battle bitterness toward God.
I will become like the unbelieving grumbling Israelites demanding God to answer to me or I will find another way.
e) Track any history of relational “train wrecks”
Do people make a wide birth around us? Are you uncomfortable to be around? Do I have trouble making and maintaining friends; burning them out with my negativity? Loneliness sets in as bitterness hardens our hearts. Don’t assume it is always a problem with other people.
Take an honest look at how we have treated others.
2. Repent of any pride and self-centeredness
Follow the remedy for pride prescribed in James 4:6-10.
3. Fully trust God
This is a conscious decision to entrust everything about my life into God’s hands. It is a commitment to view all the people and events in my life as something arranged or allowed by God to work His purposes in me or through me.
Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. 1 Peter 4:19
It is that commitment that will enable us to see life’s difficult people and events from an eternal perspective and reduce the opportunity for negative thoughts and emotions to flourish.
Sarah was able to willingly submit to her husband Abraham’s leadership because her trust was in God not her husband.
If we truly trust God concerning everything that comes into our lives…
If we truly believe that God has allowed even this offense to accomplish something in my life…
If we believe that He intends this unpleasant circumstance to bring about His purposes…
…THEN there is no ground for bitterness to develop.
Rather, there is great opportunity for deeper trust, thanksgiving and obedience.
4. Sacrificially serve for the good of others
Husbands are to sacrificially love their wives as Christ loved the church and not be embittered.
We are to focus on pouring into the lives of others. It is hard to harbor bitterness toward those we have chosen to serve.
If I view this circumstance as an opportunity to minister for God and to people…
If I understand that even this offense is an opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ…
If I have truly offered my life in service to God and others…
THEN there is no ground for bitterness to develop.
Rather, there is opportunity for rejoicing at the chance to suffer for Christ and further His purpose on earth.
5. Personally embrace God’s grace and forgiveness
Over and over again the measure and motivation to forgive others is our forgiveness by Christ.
It stands to reason then, that we must first apprehend and appreciate the marvel of our own forgiveness before we can extend any level of forgiveness to others. Until we understand the magnitude of our forgiveness, we will forever struggle with forgiving others. Forgiveness not only conditions but cleanses the soil of our soul. Bitterness blocks true ministry and genuine expression of Christ’s love. The more we understand the enormity of Christ’s love and forgiveness toward us, the more we will eagerly love and forgive others.
The core concept of forgiveness has to do with releasing from debt. Forgiving does not have to do with forgetting. It has to do with consciously releasing the debt of our debtors.
I like the older translation of the Disciple’s Prayer.
“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”
If we are struggling with our own personal debt it is much more difficult to consider releasing others from their debt to us.
Say I own the bank $5,000. You owe me $500. The bank calls and demands immediate payment. I ask for mercy and additional time to pay. Request denied! I anxiously in turn demand immediate repayment of your debt. You ask for mercy and more time to pay.
What will be my likely response?
On the other hand, let’s say the bank not only completely forgives ALL my debt, but promises that no further debt will ever be incurred because they have granted an unlimited line of credit to cover any future expenditure that never has to be paid back. I will never be in debt to the bank again! What effect might that have on my response toward the one who owes me $500?
Just before His death on the cross, Jesus uttered those most powerful words: “It is finished!”
It cold actually be translated “paid in full” “To conclude, finish, complete, execute, discharge a debt, pay.”
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7-8
When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us ALL our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! Psa 32:1-2
Not only did we inherit the debt of our ancestors back to Adam, we added plenty of our own.
It was a debt none of us could ever hope to pay. It was a debt that condemned us to an eternity of punishment. Jesus paid it all in full. He took all of our sin and guilt.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psa 103:10-12
Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed form all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39
The Lord is good, ready to forgive, abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. Ps 86:5
6. Completely forgive those who have offended you
Once you come to grips with the extent of God’s forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice, it becomes completely unreasonable and even criminal to demand payment or punishment from those who offend us. Forgiving our offenders is not only reasonable, it is REQUIRED.
'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]' "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:12-15
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Mark 11:25
There it is! Failure to forgive others prevents our forgiveness. If we refuse to forgive others, the Father refuses to forgive us.
Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him." Luke 17:3-4
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Colossians 3:13
Forgiveness does not mean I forget. Forgetting offenses is not only impossible, it is unhealthy.
God does not forget our offenses. He can’t forget! He is omniscient. He doesn’t forget anything.
"for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." Jeremiah 31:34
That means God will not remember them against us. He will not bring them up and charge us with them ever again. I cannot forget the things done to me but I can choose not to demand payment or exact punishment or hold it against the offender.
The foundational teaching of Jesus concerning forgiveness is recorded in Matt 18:21-35 in response to a question from Peter.
I identify at least six characteristics of genuine forgiveness from this passage of Scripture.
Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said* to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. "For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. "When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. "But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. "So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.' "And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. "But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe.' "So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, 'Have patience with me and I will repay you.' "But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. "So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. "Then summoning him, his lord said* to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." Matthew 18:21-35
a) Confrontive
The master had a legitimate right to collect on the debt and chose to settle accounts.
There are times when we need to lovingly communicate someone’s offense and how it has affected us. We must realize that most of the time repayment is impossible. People cannot change history. We cannot take back words said or actions done. The most we can hope for is a realization of the offense and a request for forgiveness leading to reconciliation. Confrontation is not always the best course of action. The key is what brings God greater glory and best achieves the purposes of the Kingdom. In this case, the slave asked for more time to repay.
He did not realize that it was beyond his capability to repay. His pride did not allow him to perceive what actually took place.
b) Character based
The Master felt deep compassion. This is the key to forgiveness. Love for the offender is central. Becoming God’s channel of love is key. This kind of love is supernatural. God’s people have powerfully demonstrated this kind of love and forgiveness for centuries in the face of horrific suffering and abuse.
c) Costly
Forgiveness is not free. Someone must bear the cost. In the case of the parable, the Master absorbed the cost to forgive. He absorbed the millions of dollars of debt incurred by the servant. Any time we forgive another, there is a cost to the one forgiving. Sometimes there is great emotional cost. Sometimes there is great personal cost. There is at times a significant monetary cost.
Because Jesus grants us an unlimited amount of forgiving grace, we can easily afford to release the debts of others and absorb the cost. Jesus paid the ultimate cost for our forgiveness by His death on the cross. Can we do less?
d) Complete
We must completely forgive. The master forgave ALL the debt of the slave. He didn’t just give more time. He discharged the WHOLE debt. No conditions.
e) Continual
Jesus answered Peter’s question concerning how often we should forgive. His answer basically advocated continual forgiveness. Not just seven times (which Peter probably perceived as a very generous gesture) but 490.
f) Cleansing or cathartic
Failure to forgive imprisons us just as surely as bitterness imprisons those we fail to release.
Unforgiveness obligates us to become prison guards over those we incarcerate by our bitterness.
In the parable, the slave becomes imprisoned by his own bitterness and unforgiveness.
He suffered at the hand of the tormentors. Failure to forgive others invites torment on us.
It eats us up. It drains our energy. It distracts our attention from Kingdom matters. It keeps our focus on the negative and thwarts our blessing. God will not dismiss the designated consequences of unforgiveness. That is what it means when it says that the Father will not forgive us if we fail to forgive others. It does not mean He withdraws eternal forgiveness because Jesus paid for all sin. It means the debt or consequences of unforgiveness cannot be dismissed in this life. The all encompassing consequences of bitterness and unforgiveness will encompass us. We will fall into the hands of the tormentors. Only repentance and confession will free us from their torment. Forgiveness not only frees our offenders, it frees us.
7. Genuinely bless those who have offended you
It is not enough just to forgive those who offend us. That is only half the cure. Scripture call to bless them; to speak well of them.
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9
Blessing others enriches the soil of our soul like a good fertilizer. It sweetens the soil to produce the sweet fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14
God instructs us to speak well not evil of all people. We are to only let words that encourage others and build them up proceed from our mouth. To do otherwise violates God’s word and invites His discipline. It is difficult to control our tongue. It is set on fire by hell itself. James tells us that anyone who can control his tongue is a perfect man. The perfect man has a perfect heart. The only way to control the tongue is to cleanse the heart from which the mouth speaks.
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21
But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:27-36
See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 1 Thessalonians 5:15
But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Luke 6:27-29
You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48
APPLICATION
1. Honestly examine your life.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalms 139:23-24
Enlist the help of others. Sometimes they can detect bitterness before we do.
God – Ourselves – Others
Write down the names and events that come readily to mind. They are the most critical.
2. Confess pride and bitterness and repent.
Father, I acknowledge my bitterness toward _________ and I realize that its presence points to pride in my life. My self-centered agenda and comfort were more important than Yours or the good of others. I confess my pride and bitterness and purpose to love and forgive even my enemies. I confess the times that I have even entertained bitterness toward You for not meeting my expectations or answering my prayers the way I thought You should. I will honestly acknowledge where my words, attitudes or actions have offended others and purpose to humbly make an honest effort to make it right.
3. Entrust your life to God.
I confess the times I have taken control of my own life. I affirm that You always know what is best for me and have my best interest at the center of Your heart. I affirm that everything that comes into my life has some eternal purpose. Not everything at the time seems good from my point of view but Your word affirms You work everything together for good. Therefore, I thank You for the opportunity to trust You in difficult times and I now choose to view every past offender and offense as an opportunity to pinpoint and purge pride from my life, draw closer to You, develop deeper trust and impact this world for Christ. I refuse to be bitter about what You have allowed to come into my life.
4. Offer your life in service to others
I offer myself as Your instrument in the lives of those You bring into my life. I chose to consider others more important then myself; their needs above my needs. I chose to give my life in service to others. I refuse to become bitter against those You have brought in my life to serve.
5. Embrace your own forgiveness by Jesus
My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought;
My sin, not in part, but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord O my soul! It is well with my soul.
I humbly and gratefully acknowledge and accept Your forgiveness and will not proudly try to repay what is impossible to repay. I accept Your cleansing forgiveness and the grace to forgive others.
6. Forgive (release) all those who have offended you
I refuse to harbor bitterness toward You. I refuse to demand payment from or punishment on any who have offended me. I choose to forgive them. I will not punish by my words, attitudes or actions. I will not demand payment by expecting anything from them as a condition of my forgiveness. I choose to personally absorb the pain and cost through the grace You so abundantly supply. I choose to no longer harbor or express negative thoughts and emotions toward You, myself or any one.
7. Bless those who have offended you
I choose to bless all who have offended me. I choose to bless You. I choose to bless myself.
I choose to bless others. I purpose to spend time everyday cultivating positive thoughts and emotions. I refuse to vent negative words to or about any who have offended me but to bless them instead.
DAILY AFFIRMATION
I will honestly search my heart
Continually expose any bitter roots in my life.
I choose to trust You today
Everything in this life is an opportunity to deepen my trust in You and prepare me for the next.
Therefore I will not harbor negative thoughts or emotions toward You, myself or any person that offends me or disappoints me.
I will entrust my life into Your hands today.
I choose to serve others today
You have called me to be an instrument in Your hands to impact this world for Christ.
Therefore, I will resist focusing on me and offer my life to serve others.
I will resist negative thoughts and emotions toward those who make my life more difficult.
I will not expect others to provide the sense of well being that can only come from You.
I embrace Your forgiveness today
I rejoice in the wonder of my forgiveness.
I am deeply grateful that You have forgiven all my sin against You.
Because of Christ I can face this day without debt.
I choose to forgive myself and all who offend me today
I refuse to harbor negative thoughts or emotions toward anyone or speak evil to them or of them.
I will forgive all who offend me as You in Christ have forgiven me.
I choose to be a blessing today
I bless You.
I rejoice in what Christ has done in me and what He wants to do through me.
I choose to bless those You bring across my path today.
