Stop That Bitterness

Focus: Ephesians 4:31 KJV - Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

There are feelings that act like a domino effect of internal rot in the life of the believer, like smoldering, long-held resentment that refuses to let go of a past offense; the sudden boiling over of internal fury and explosive emotional heat, loud, public arguing, shouting, brawling, or making a public scene, slander, insults, backbiting, and using words to destroy someone's reputation; and a deep-seated desire to see another person suffer, fail, or be harmed. These behaviors are completely incompatible with the new life in Christ and must be deliberately discarded.

When Esau discovered that his twin brother, Jacob, had deceptively stolen his father Isaac's ultimate blessing, Esau was consumed by immediate fury. The Bible notes his intense anger. His internal wrath quickly manifested in loud, bitter weeping and verbal threats. Esau openly declared his malicious intent to his family. His death threat forced Jacob to flee the country in terror, leaving Esau to simmer in his bitterness for over 20 long years. Two decades later, Jacob returned home, trembling with fear that Esau would finally execute his malicious revenge. However, during those years apart, Esau had made a definitive heart choice. He chose to banish the bitterness. When the two brothers finally met face-to-face, there was no wrath, no clamour, and no malice. Esau completely dropped his historical grievance and welcomed his brother in peace.

Esau shows us that holding onto bitterness only chains one to his past. He had every human reason to remain angry, but he realized that carrying 20 years of malice was a heavy, useless burden. By actively putting away his wrath, he unlocked supernatural reconciliation. If Esau could lay down a multi-decade grudge before the cross, believers today have the ultimate power through the Holy Spirit to put away all resentment and walk in absolute freedom. Let us therefore, put aside every root of bitterness and embrace love so that we may have peace and sustained health, by the help of God.

Prayer:

Thank you, father for your loving kindness. I have been through immense pain and hurt by the doings of men. I look to you for help to expunge every jot of bitterness, hatred and anger against my fellow beings. Help me to duly love them that hate me and pray for them that spitefully use me. By this, please take every canker away from my body and grant me perfect health with peace all around, in Jesus’ name.

Please share. God bless you.