OVERCOMING BITTERNESS
BITTERNESS affects everyone. Each of us have wrestled with our personal bouts of bitterness. Usually it is a minor irritation, while at other times it can become a deep-seated sickness which affects every area of our life. Usually, it is a temporary problem which is soon resolved. At other times, it becomes a long-standing condition which lingers for a lifetime.
The world is filled with bitter, resentful people who have never come to grips with bitterness or learned to adequately deal with it.
The world is filled with bitter, resentful people who have never come to grips with bitterness or learned to adequately deal with it.
What Is Bitterness?
Bitterness can be defined as "an intense, deep-seated feeling of resentment, indignation, and ill-will against someone or something which we feel has committed an insult, injustice, or offense against us." It is an emotional response which results from failing to properly deal with feelings of personal outrage, anger, unforgiveness, and contempt.
It is a condition which can arise when we fail to adequately resolve feelings of personal injury such as being humiliated, offended, unfairly treated, slighted, misunderstood, misused, misinterpreted, wronged in some way, or having our rights violated or ignored.
It is a condition which can arise when we fail to adequately resolve feelings of personal injury such as being humiliated, offended, unfairly treated, slighted, misunderstood, misused, misinterpreted, wronged in some way, or having our rights violated or ignored.
How Common Is Bitterness?
The Bible warns us to be "looking diligently lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled" (Heb. 12:15).
Feelings of bitterness and resentment are universal. They are so common and widespread that they affect everyone at some point in their life. No one is exempt or totally immune. It strikes young and old, male and female, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, healthy and unhealthy, believers and unbelievers.
Whether bitterness is severe or mild, isolated or widespread, a short term problem or one which lingers for a lifetime, everyone has had to struggle with this area.
Feelings of bitterness and resentment are universal. They are so common and widespread that they affect everyone at some point in their life. No one is exempt or totally immune. It strikes young and old, male and female, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, healthy and unhealthy, believers and unbelievers.
Whether bitterness is severe or mild, isolated or widespread, a short term problem or one which lingers for a lifetime, everyone has had to struggle with this area.
What Are The Effects Of Bitterness?
Bitterness breeds a wide variety of destructive conditions. It adversely affects every area of our mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual well-being.
Bitterness contaminates us with feelings of hostility, animosity, resentment, antagonism, hatred, suspicion, jealousy, and vindictiveness. It can quench our joy and enthusiasm for life, undermine our interest for the things of God, harden our hearts, pervert our spiritual judgment, distort our image of God, and ruin relationships.
Bitterness generates irritability, frustration, discontent, anger, apathy, stress, and feelings of rejection and condemnation. It can cause nervous tension, insomnia, physical and emotional fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, loss of appetite, and ulcers.
Bitterness contaminates us with feelings of hostility, animosity, resentment, antagonism, hatred, suspicion, jealousy, and vindictiveness. It can quench our joy and enthusiasm for life, undermine our interest for the things of God, harden our hearts, pervert our spiritual judgment, distort our image of God, and ruin relationships.
Bitterness generates irritability, frustration, discontent, anger, apathy, stress, and feelings of rejection and condemnation. It can cause nervous tension, insomnia, physical and emotional fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, loss of appetite, and ulcers.
How Serious Is Bitterness?
Bitterness is like a festering sore. It is a cancerous condition which can consume us with ill-will, negativity, slander, fault-finding, cynicism, criticism, complaining, and an argumentative spirit.
The Bible compares bitterness to a "root" and declares that many have been "defiled" by it (Heb.12:15).
The scriptures speak of a "root of bitterness" because its potential effect upon our life can be as widespread and deeply embedded as the action of spreading roots which take hold and entangle our life. When bitterness is allowed to take root, it becomes an increasingly deadly and destructive problem which chokes every area of our existence. If left unchecked, it will completely contaminate us and eventually undermine our relationship with God, spell spiritual shipwreck, and seriously damage our relationships with even our closest loved ones and friends.
The Bible compares bitterness to a "root" and declares that many have been "defiled" by it (Heb.12:15).
The scriptures speak of a "root of bitterness" because its potential effect upon our life can be as widespread and deeply embedded as the action of spreading roots which take hold and entangle our life. When bitterness is allowed to take root, it becomes an increasingly deadly and destructive problem which chokes every area of our existence. If left unchecked, it will completely contaminate us and eventually undermine our relationship with God, spell spiritual shipwreck, and seriously damage our relationships with even our closest loved ones and friends.
Common Causes Of Bitterness
1. Unfulfilled Expectations
The seeds of bitterness often take root when we fail to achieve our goals, fulfill our dreams, and realize our expectations in the timing and manner in which we had hoped.
Many feel that life has somehow cheated them. Some individuals harbor deep resentments that life has dealt them a raw deal. They may feel that God or other people have been cruel, unjust, and unfair by shortchanging them or giving them a rough break. Bitterness may stem from feeling neglected, left out, bypassed, or overlooked.
Often, it seems that the course of our lives is beyond our control. When we feel that we have no say concerning the events which befall us, we may feel trapped, frustrated, and a helpless victim of circumstances. This condition provides the fertile soil for a root of bitterness to take hold.
2. Unresolved Offenses
Conflicts with others are a common source of lingering bitterness and resentment. Arguments and quarrels can produce longstanding rifts and feelings of bitterness even between the closest loved ones and friends.
Disagreements, contentions, and strife often create offenses in our hearts. Offenses arise when we feel that an injustice has been committed against us. This can be in the form of feeling insulted, maligned, slighted, mistreated, misinterpreted, misunderstood, abused, or wronged by another party.
When interpersonal feuds, conflicts, disputes, controversies, grudges, antagonisms, jealousies, and competitiveness towards others are not resolved, our failure to reconcile them will result in increasing feelings of bitterness which poison and pollute our entire system.
3. Unresolved Anger
Bitterness and anger are closely related. Bitterness is often the by-product of an angry spirit. When we fail to deal with the sin of unrighteous anger, the consequence is often an embittered spirit.
Some individuals are infected with hostility and anger. They are consumed with an angry and antagonistic spirit. The focus of their anger can be a person, circumstance, or thing. It can even be directed against God.
Some people express their anger outwardly, while others bottle it up and secretly conceal their inner rage and frustration. Those who quietly repress their hostility generally end up with a great deal of pent-up animosity and hatred which eats away at them in the form of deep resentment and bitterness.
4. A Failure To Forgive
An unwillingness to forgive others is usually at the very heart of bitterness. When we stubbornly refuse to forgive an offending party, we begin to lay the groundwork for longlasting bitterness.
The tendency to hold a grudge, nurse a grievance, dwell upon past offenses, or keep a record of wrongs is a common cause of continuing bitterness. One of the great contributing factors in a deepening root of bitterness is a person's persistent refusal to forgive.
Many people suffer from a bitter spirit simply because of their reluctance to forgive. This failure to forgive can actually cause a person to spend a lifetime brooding over the offenses of yesterday and reinforcing their feelings of animosity, vengefulness, and resentment towards other people.
5. A Failure To Yield Our Rights
Individuals who have not genuinely submitted their lives to the Lordship of Christ or yielded their personal rights to God are particularly prone to offenses and feelings of resentment.
People who go through life demanding their own way, expecting everything to be in their favor, and for everyone to respect their rights are especially susceptible to feelings of resentment. They become bitter towards God and others when their feelings are overlooked, their freedoms violated, their plans disrupted, or their rights aren't honored.
The failure to exercise a yielded spirit or meekly surrender our rights unto God often results in resentment. This is a common reaction in those who secretly harbor the selfish, self-centered attitude that the world revolves around them. Consequently, mounting feelings of animosity and a preoccupation with bitterness arise when they discover the sobering reality that this is not the case.
6. Fellowshipping Bitterness
Sometimes a person will unconsciously acquire the bitterness and offenses of another. Bitterness is like a contagious disease which can be caught through our fellowship and contact with a bitter person.
Often an innocent person is exposed to the bitterness of another. If the relationship is close and a person fails to guard his heart or exercise godly cautions, he (or she) may subtlely fall prey to the same feelings of resentment and ill-will contained in the heart of the bitter party.
Not only can an innocent person acquire the seeds of bitterness from another, but if bitterness already exists, those feelings, may be reinforced. Bitter people often gravitate towards each other for sympathy and mutual self-justification. This common tendency often results in a deeper root of bitterness forming.
The seeds of bitterness often take root when we fail to achieve our goals, fulfill our dreams, and realize our expectations in the timing and manner in which we had hoped.
Many feel that life has somehow cheated them. Some individuals harbor deep resentments that life has dealt them a raw deal. They may feel that God or other people have been cruel, unjust, and unfair by shortchanging them or giving them a rough break. Bitterness may stem from feeling neglected, left out, bypassed, or overlooked.
Often, it seems that the course of our lives is beyond our control. When we feel that we have no say concerning the events which befall us, we may feel trapped, frustrated, and a helpless victim of circumstances. This condition provides the fertile soil for a root of bitterness to take hold.
2. Unresolved Offenses
Conflicts with others are a common source of lingering bitterness and resentment. Arguments and quarrels can produce longstanding rifts and feelings of bitterness even between the closest loved ones and friends.
Disagreements, contentions, and strife often create offenses in our hearts. Offenses arise when we feel that an injustice has been committed against us. This can be in the form of feeling insulted, maligned, slighted, mistreated, misinterpreted, misunderstood, abused, or wronged by another party.
When interpersonal feuds, conflicts, disputes, controversies, grudges, antagonisms, jealousies, and competitiveness towards others are not resolved, our failure to reconcile them will result in increasing feelings of bitterness which poison and pollute our entire system.
3. Unresolved Anger
Bitterness and anger are closely related. Bitterness is often the by-product of an angry spirit. When we fail to deal with the sin of unrighteous anger, the consequence is often an embittered spirit.
Some individuals are infected with hostility and anger. They are consumed with an angry and antagonistic spirit. The focus of their anger can be a person, circumstance, or thing. It can even be directed against God.
Some people express their anger outwardly, while others bottle it up and secretly conceal their inner rage and frustration. Those who quietly repress their hostility generally end up with a great deal of pent-up animosity and hatred which eats away at them in the form of deep resentment and bitterness.
4. A Failure To Forgive
An unwillingness to forgive others is usually at the very heart of bitterness. When we stubbornly refuse to forgive an offending party, we begin to lay the groundwork for longlasting bitterness.
The tendency to hold a grudge, nurse a grievance, dwell upon past offenses, or keep a record of wrongs is a common cause of continuing bitterness. One of the great contributing factors in a deepening root of bitterness is a person's persistent refusal to forgive.
Many people suffer from a bitter spirit simply because of their reluctance to forgive. This failure to forgive can actually cause a person to spend a lifetime brooding over the offenses of yesterday and reinforcing their feelings of animosity, vengefulness, and resentment towards other people.
5. A Failure To Yield Our Rights
Individuals who have not genuinely submitted their lives to the Lordship of Christ or yielded their personal rights to God are particularly prone to offenses and feelings of resentment.
People who go through life demanding their own way, expecting everything to be in their favor, and for everyone to respect their rights are especially susceptible to feelings of resentment. They become bitter towards God and others when their feelings are overlooked, their freedoms violated, their plans disrupted, or their rights aren't honored.
The failure to exercise a yielded spirit or meekly surrender our rights unto God often results in resentment. This is a common reaction in those who secretly harbor the selfish, self-centered attitude that the world revolves around them. Consequently, mounting feelings of animosity and a preoccupation with bitterness arise when they discover the sobering reality that this is not the case.
6. Fellowshipping Bitterness
Sometimes a person will unconsciously acquire the bitterness and offenses of another. Bitterness is like a contagious disease which can be caught through our fellowship and contact with a bitter person.
Often an innocent person is exposed to the bitterness of another. If the relationship is close and a person fails to guard his heart or exercise godly cautions, he (or she) may subtlely fall prey to the same feelings of resentment and ill-will contained in the heart of the bitter party.
Not only can an innocent person acquire the seeds of bitterness from another, but if bitterness already exists, those feelings, may be reinforced. Bitter people often gravitate towards each other for sympathy and mutual self-justification. This common tendency often results in a deeper root of bitterness forming.
A Common Tendency
Bitter people often make excuses for their bitterness by blaming God and others. Instead of accepting responsibility for their sin, they attempt to justify their resentment by shifting the blame. They often emphasize the faults of others and rationalize their feelings of offense in order to minimize their guilt, justify their bitterness, and defend their unwillingness to deal with the problem.
However, before we can successfully overcome this problem, we must confront any unwillingness or reluctance to accept personal responsibility for our bitter feelings. Rather than pointing the finger at others, we must commit ourselves to deal with our sin in a sincere, willing, and godly manner. A refusal to do so will only result in a continuation of the problem. As long as we persist in making excuses or shifting the blame, the root of bitterness will continue to strengthen its deadly stranglehold upon our life.
However, before we can successfully overcome this problem, we must confront any unwillingness or reluctance to accept personal responsibility for our bitter feelings. Rather than pointing the finger at others, we must commit ourselves to deal with our sin in a sincere, willing, and godly manner. A refusal to do so will only result in a continuation of the problem. As long as we persist in making excuses or shifting the blame, the root of bitterness will continue to strengthen its deadly stranglehold upon our life.
How Should We Respond?
Though there are no simple, quick-fix solutions to bitterness, there are several essential steps for successfully overcoming this problem:
1. Take Immediate Action
We must recognize that we have a serious problem. We must endeavor to take prompt and decisive action against it. Bitterness is not a condition which we can afford to procrastinate about, take lightly, or allow to remain unchecked in our life. If we fail to act, it will have a devastating and far-reaching impact upon our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
If we allow bitterness to remain unchallenged by justifying it, minimizing its seriousness, or by ignoring the inevitable consequences, the problem will only intensity and reinforce its destructive effects upon our life.
2. We Must Sincerely Repent
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9). Repenting is a fundamental step towards overcoming bitterness.
We must go to the root of the problem by recognizing that bitterness is a serious sin which must be sincerely repented of or it will contaminate and corrupt every area of our life.
A refusal to co-operate with the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will only prolong our bitterness. We must come to a place of heartfelt brokenness and repentance before God. We must confess the sin of bitterness and ask for God's cleansing power and forgiveness. This must also include a repentance of any additional feelings of anger, hatred, animosity, vindictiveness, or lack of forgiveness. This is an essential step towards achieving a lasting victory.
3. We Must Be Willing To Forgive
We must recognize that unforgiveness is a sin which generates grievances, resentment, vindictiveness, and offenses. If a failure to forgive someone is a contributing factor in our bitterness, we must commit ourselves to genuinely forgive those who have offended us.
The Bible appeals to us to "Let all bitterness wrath, anger...be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you" (Eph. 4:31,32).
We must confront any tendency on our part to hold a grudge, nurse a grievance, or dwell upon past injustices. Forgiveness is not only a preventative safeguard against potential offenses and resentment, but it is also an essential prescription for healing existing bitterness. If we will commit ourselves to forgive and permit the love to prevail, we will eliminate a major obstacle in the pathway to overcoming bitterness.
4. We Must Reconcile Offenses
If existing offenses between yourself and another are a cause of bitterness, you must take the initiative to heal the offense and reconcile the relationship according to the guidelines provided by God's Word.
No matter how inconvenient or awkward this may be, we must strive for forgiveness and reconciliation. As long as offenses continue to exist, our feelings of bitterness will continue to thrive and sink their root deeper into our hearts. It's not sufficient just to ask God to forgive us for the sin of bitterness if others are involved. We must give more than lip service to the problem. We must accept our personal responsibility to heal any existing offenses, ill-will, and misunderstandings towards those against whom we are harboring bitterness.
5. We Mus Embrace A Godly Perspective Of Life
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Feelings of bitterness and resentment will continue to dominate us as long as we fail to view our life from a godly perspective.
The Bible doesn't say that all things are good, but that "all things work together" for our good. This includes all of our trials, hardships, disappointments, setbacks, delays, frustrations, circumstances, handicaps, and limitations.
We must recognize that the circumstances of life which we may resent are actually a tool for God to perfect and produce His virtues, character, and good pleasure in us. We must, therefore, stand on this scriptural reality rather than allow ourselves to succumb to feelings of bitterness against either God or our life situation.
6. We Must Appropriate God's Power
If we attempt to overcome bitterness in our own strength and determination, we are doomed to failure and disappointment. We must appropriate the power and resources of the Holy Spirit through prayer.
After identifying this problem, we should begin to aggressively attack it through fervent, persistent prayer, knowing that "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16).
After we have committed ourselves to following whatever steps are necessary for achieving a victory over our bitterness, we must not ignore or neglect our need for prayer. We must follow through with consistent prayer until this problem is completely eliminated. If we will bring the power of God to bear through prayer, He will impart the
necessary grace, strength, and guidance to wage successful warfare and totally eradicate this problem.
7. We Must Not Fellowship Bitterness
"Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul" (Prov.22:24,25).
When fellowshipping with others, we must cautiously avoid fellowshipping with their bitterness lest we run the rist of acquiring their ways. Bitter people generate bitter feelings which can infect others. Their bitterness subtlely flavors their attitudes, speech , and judgments. Just as people can pick-up on the offenses in others, people can also be gradually influenced and contaminated by the bitter undercurrents in bitter people.
The scriptures warn us of the potentially destructive power through wrong relationships: "Be not misled: Bad company corrupts good character" (1Cor.15:33, NIV). Therefore, we must diligently avoid fellowshipping or sympathizing with the bitterness in others lest we either inherit their resentment or reinforce any existing, unresolved bitterness in our own heart.
8. We Must Exercise Preventative Maintenance
Because bitterness is such a potentially devastating condition, we must always exercise godly cautions and restraints lest we fall prey to this sin or fall back under its corrosive influence after we have recovered from it.
The scriptures exhort us to "Keep your heart with all diligence, for our of it spring the issues of life (Prov.4:23). We must be careful not to allow offenses, misunderstandings, anger, disappointments, sensitiveness, trials, delays, setbacks, or any other factor to plant the destructive seeds of bitterness in our hearts.
The scriptures further admonish us to be "looking diligently lest...any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble" (Heb.12:15). We must be alert, therefore, diligently guarding our attitudes, reactions, motives, confessions, and thought life. We must regularly examine each of these areas and cleanse any tendency on our part to cultivate the seeds of bitterness.
1. Take Immediate Action
We must recognize that we have a serious problem. We must endeavor to take prompt and decisive action against it. Bitterness is not a condition which we can afford to procrastinate about, take lightly, or allow to remain unchecked in our life. If we fail to act, it will have a devastating and far-reaching impact upon our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
If we allow bitterness to remain unchallenged by justifying it, minimizing its seriousness, or by ignoring the inevitable consequences, the problem will only intensity and reinforce its destructive effects upon our life.
2. We Must Sincerely Repent
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9). Repenting is a fundamental step towards overcoming bitterness.
We must go to the root of the problem by recognizing that bitterness is a serious sin which must be sincerely repented of or it will contaminate and corrupt every area of our life.
A refusal to co-operate with the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will only prolong our bitterness. We must come to a place of heartfelt brokenness and repentance before God. We must confess the sin of bitterness and ask for God's cleansing power and forgiveness. This must also include a repentance of any additional feelings of anger, hatred, animosity, vindictiveness, or lack of forgiveness. This is an essential step towards achieving a lasting victory.
3. We Must Be Willing To Forgive
We must recognize that unforgiveness is a sin which generates grievances, resentment, vindictiveness, and offenses. If a failure to forgive someone is a contributing factor in our bitterness, we must commit ourselves to genuinely forgive those who have offended us.
The Bible appeals to us to "Let all bitterness wrath, anger...be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you" (Eph. 4:31,32).
We must confront any tendency on our part to hold a grudge, nurse a grievance, or dwell upon past injustices. Forgiveness is not only a preventative safeguard against potential offenses and resentment, but it is also an essential prescription for healing existing bitterness. If we will commit ourselves to forgive and permit the love to prevail, we will eliminate a major obstacle in the pathway to overcoming bitterness.
4. We Must Reconcile Offenses
If existing offenses between yourself and another are a cause of bitterness, you must take the initiative to heal the offense and reconcile the relationship according to the guidelines provided by God's Word.
No matter how inconvenient or awkward this may be, we must strive for forgiveness and reconciliation. As long as offenses continue to exist, our feelings of bitterness will continue to thrive and sink their root deeper into our hearts. It's not sufficient just to ask God to forgive us for the sin of bitterness if others are involved. We must give more than lip service to the problem. We must accept our personal responsibility to heal any existing offenses, ill-will, and misunderstandings towards those against whom we are harboring bitterness.
5. We Mus Embrace A Godly Perspective Of Life
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Feelings of bitterness and resentment will continue to dominate us as long as we fail to view our life from a godly perspective.
The Bible doesn't say that all things are good, but that "all things work together" for our good. This includes all of our trials, hardships, disappointments, setbacks, delays, frustrations, circumstances, handicaps, and limitations.
We must recognize that the circumstances of life which we may resent are actually a tool for God to perfect and produce His virtues, character, and good pleasure in us. We must, therefore, stand on this scriptural reality rather than allow ourselves to succumb to feelings of bitterness against either God or our life situation.
6. We Must Appropriate God's Power
If we attempt to overcome bitterness in our own strength and determination, we are doomed to failure and disappointment. We must appropriate the power and resources of the Holy Spirit through prayer.
After identifying this problem, we should begin to aggressively attack it through fervent, persistent prayer, knowing that "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16).
After we have committed ourselves to following whatever steps are necessary for achieving a victory over our bitterness, we must not ignore or neglect our need for prayer. We must follow through with consistent prayer until this problem is completely eliminated. If we will bring the power of God to bear through prayer, He will impart the
necessary grace, strength, and guidance to wage successful warfare and totally eradicate this problem.
7. We Must Not Fellowship Bitterness
"Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul" (Prov.22:24,25).
When fellowshipping with others, we must cautiously avoid fellowshipping with their bitterness lest we run the rist of acquiring their ways. Bitter people generate bitter feelings which can infect others. Their bitterness subtlely flavors their attitudes, speech , and judgments. Just as people can pick-up on the offenses in others, people can also be gradually influenced and contaminated by the bitter undercurrents in bitter people.
The scriptures warn us of the potentially destructive power through wrong relationships: "Be not misled: Bad company corrupts good character" (1Cor.15:33, NIV). Therefore, we must diligently avoid fellowshipping or sympathizing with the bitterness in others lest we either inherit their resentment or reinforce any existing, unresolved bitterness in our own heart.
8. We Must Exercise Preventative Maintenance
Because bitterness is such a potentially devastating condition, we must always exercise godly cautions and restraints lest we fall prey to this sin or fall back under its corrosive influence after we have recovered from it.
The scriptures exhort us to "Keep your heart with all diligence, for our of it spring the issues of life (Prov.4:23). We must be careful not to allow offenses, misunderstandings, anger, disappointments, sensitiveness, trials, delays, setbacks, or any other factor to plant the destructive seeds of bitterness in our hearts.
The scriptures further admonish us to be "looking diligently lest...any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble" (Heb.12:15). We must be alert, therefore, diligently guarding our attitudes, reactions, motives, confessions, and thought life. We must regularly examine each of these areas and cleanse any tendency on our part to cultivate the seeds of bitterness.
Conclusion
We have carefully examined the causes and cures for bitterness. We should review the scriptural responses which apply to our personal situation and make a determined commitment to follow them:
1. We must take immediate action.
2. We must sincerely repent.
3. We must be willing to forgive.
4. We must reconcile offenses.
5. We must embrace a godly perspective of life.
6. We must appropriate God's power.
7. We must not fellowship bitterness in others.
8. We must exercise preventative maintenance.
by: CEI
1. We must take immediate action.
2. We must sincerely repent.
3. We must be willing to forgive.
4. We must reconcile offenses.
5. We must embrace a godly perspective of life.
6. We must appropriate God's power.
7. We must not fellowship bitterness in others.
8. We must exercise preventative maintenance.
by: CEI