Bitterness. Have you been there? Things don’t go your way, happen the way you think they should. The world comes crashing down around the perfect world you were walking in. Someone or someones let you down. What is the result? Bitterness!
Bitterness left untreated results in hate, gossip, and separation — from both God and fellow man — trouble causing defilement, lack of grace toward others, wickedness, bondage of iniquity, faithlessness, unforgiveness, anger.
Well, the Word of God says, “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;“
Hebrews 12:15 NASB
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 NASB
Bitterness has no place in our lives especially since it is rooted in distrust and selfishness.
It is like saying, “I don’t trust God because of what is happening”. We are blinded by selfishness because it isn’t going the way we think it should.
Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness;
Isaiah 38:17a
For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
Acts 8:23
How do I escape this gall of bitterness that has me and escape the bondage of sin?
Be in the Word:
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB
THEN:
You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore REPENT of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.
Acts 8:21-23 NASB
And God will redeem.
It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
Isaiah 38:17b
Being bitter is not trusting in the holy God of the universe. He is in full control so we do not need to be bitter.
For:
This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalms 118:24 NASB
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 NASB
Take it from someone who has spent over a year in bondage to bitterness. It is debilitating. It is pride. I can still thank God because He taught me, humbled me, made me more dependent on Him and made me realize I can’t walk this walk alone. I am so thankful for sisters in Christ who stood by me through it all. I am not completely through it but I am more aware of the warning signs that leads me to prayer and submission and the realization that God is in control and I can fully trust Him.
To God be the glory!!! 🙌
Continually Seeking Him,
Sharon
Archive | February 2023
Love the Lord – Part 5
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ — Mark 12:30
When it comes to love I am weak. Loving is hard work. And when I try to grasp loving the Almighty God I am overwhelmed with my weak inability. But then I am encouraged in God’s word that reminds me it isn’t up to me. All that is required is surrender to God and allow His strength to give me the ability to love Him. The Lord will give us strength as we seek the Lord and His strength. As we seek Him through His word we draw closer to our Lord resulting in a deep, intimate love. (1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalm 29:11)
The strength to love the Lord is my song and I long to glorify Jesus Christ in all I say and in all I do. The strength of His love in me just overflows in all I say and do. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me through that wonderful relationship with Jesus. (Psalm 118:14; 1 Peter 4:11; Philippians 4:13)
So love Him with all your strength and seek Him continuously to ensure you have the strength to love Him.
Continually seeking Him,
Sharon
1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.
Psalm 29:11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 118:14 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Love the Lord – Part 4
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, — Mark 12:30
The best way to love the Lord with all our mind is to have the mind of Christ, received via the Holy Spirit that lives within us. With the Holy Spirit’s help we can truly love Him with all we are. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
We can begin by asking the Lord to test our mind so we can be made new in the attitude of our minds; and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Psalm 26:2; Ephesians 4:22-23) What better way to love our Lord.
We then need to set our mind on the things above like whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Our focus on these things places us in the proper attitude of worship to truly love the Lord as He deserves. (Colossians 3:2; Philippians 4:8)
So let me encourage you to set your mind on loving the Lord and be greatly blessed.
Continually seeking Him,
Sharon
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Ephesians 4:23-24 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self,created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Love the Lord – Part 3
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, — Mark 12:30
How do we love our Lord with all our soul? We need help because we are not able to love God on our own. Ezekiel 18:4 says, “Behold, all souls are Mine;”. Our souls belong to God. Because He is our God and our souls are His, our natural desire is to thirst and pant for Him.
He gives us the desire to cling to Him, to earnestly seek Him. As we seek Him our soul grows to love Him more and more. Seeking Him through His word it helps us to know Him and the more we know Him the more we love Him. In this we can rejoice and praise Him!!!
So seek Him earnestly through the word of God, prayer, and praise.
Continually seeking Him,
Sharon
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.
Psalm 63:1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
Psalm 63:8 My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 119:75 Let my soul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me.
Love the Lord – Part 2
and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart — Mark 12:30
“with all your heart”
How? By a new heart given by God. (Ezekiel 36:26) My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart (Psalm 73:26). The Lord will circumcise your heart to love the Lord (Deuteronomy 30:6:). It is all about Him, isn’t it? God is love and He is the One who enables my heart to love Him. Mind boggling.
What can we do? Pray asking the Lord to create in me a clean heart, O God (Psalm 51:10) and search me, O God, and know my heart (Psalm 139:23). We need to set our heart to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 12:14). We need His word — please receive instruction from His mouth and establish His words in your heart (Job 22:22).
I do my best to follow Your commands. You are the One who gives me the desire (willing heart, understanding) (Psalm 119:32).
We need a relationship with Jesus Christ so we can love the Lord our God with all our heart.
Continually seeking Him,
Sharon
Ezekiel 36:26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Deuteronomy 30:6 Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
2 Chronicles 12:14 He did evil because he did not set his heart to seek theLord.
Job 22:22 Please receive instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart.
Psalm 119:32 I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart.
Love the Lord
and you shall love the Lord your God — Mark 12:30
The commandment is to love the Lord, our God. How can we possibly love God who is love? (1 John 4:8) We could not even come close to measuring up to His love. We are incapable of loving God on our own. We need the help of the Master. With salvation comes the Spirit of God living in us. The love of God living in us enables us to love Him. We can love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) And if we love Him we will keep His commandments — to love the Lord, our God.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Continually seeking Him,
Sharon
1 John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us.
Who Do You Say That I Am?
… “But who do you say that I am?” – Mark 8:29
Jesus asked Peter, one of His disciples, this question. In verse 27 Jesus asked Peter, “Who do people say I am?” Could it be that Jesus was pointing out that believing He is the Messiah (Christ) is an individual decision? You can’t get to heaven on your Mom or Dad’s belief, or on the belief of any other person. Accepting Jesus as your Savior is an individual choice to be made. Who do you say that Jesus is? Me? Jesus is my life, the reason I breathe. He is the joy of my heart, the reason I sing and rejoice. He is my Lord, Redeemer, Friend. He is my help, refuge and strength, Comforter, Counselor, Leader. Jesus is my All in all. I could go on but I will close with – He is my HOPE! I sincerely hope you seek Him so you can know for yourself who Jesus is.
Continually seeking Him,
Sharon
This entry was posted on January 7, 2014
Continually Seeking Him 