A prayer to forget the bitterness of last year
Written by Lynette Kittle
Bible reading:
“Get rid of every grudge, anger, anger, quarreling and slander, and every form of malice.” – Ephesians 4:31
Listen or read below:
Bitterness is a deep-rooted problem that is difficult to eliminate completely from our lives, especially when it involves injustice, hurt, suffering, and other forms of pain.
When it remains rooted, it grips us tightly and squeezes the life out of us, preventing us from experiencing the goodness of God and the joy that is available to us.
It is definitely life-killing and will destroy us from within if we don’t get rid of it ourselves. Of course, we can’t do it alone because we need God’s power to overcome it.
We are not strong enough on our own, so Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”
Forgiveness frees us from bitterness
The apostle Paul explains in Acts 8:23 that when bitterness enters our lives, it puts us under the control of sin. “I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
Even with the self-help programs, remediation courses, and counseling opportunities that are popular in our culture, it is impossible to get rid of resentment without forgiveness. This means we need to forgive those we hold grudges against.
That includes forgiving others. They are often people who are apologetic, believe they have nothing to apologize for, and believe there is nothing to be forgiven.
Proverbs 14:10 describes how each of us carries personal bitterness, while no one really knows what is in our hearts. “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.”
Like the Mary Poppins song, “A spoonful of sugar makes medicine better,” we need God’s gentle forgiveness to wash away the bitterness in our hearts.
Our fallen human nature clings to bitterness, but because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are given the ability to let go of bitterness and resist the sin of clinging to it.
As Romans 6:14 reassures us, “Sin is no longer your master, since you are no longer under law but under grace.”
It’s time to “Let It Go”!
The new year is a time when we let go of all bitterness and resist the need to carry it over to another year. Hebrews 12:15 warns: “Take care lest anyone fall short of God’s grace, and lest bitter roots grow up to afflict and defile many.”
God calls us to let go of all bitterness and we must obey. As Paul urges in Ephesians 4:31, it’s time to come to terms with God by singing the Frozen song “Let it Go.”
Sadly, many of us struggle to let go of grudges against others, resisting the pull of forgiveness in our hearts, yet believing that we have too much resentment built up inside of us that we can’t release it from, and don’t know where or how to start.
But God has forgiven us, so as Christians we still need to face the issue of resentment head on. We have absolutely no excuse or justification for holding a grudge against anyone.
Jesus exhorts us in Mark 11:25, “And as you stand praying, if you hold a grudge against anyone, forgive him, and your heavenly Father will forgive you your sins.”
And Jesus not only preached it, but He put it into practice by forgiving those who crucified Him.
While praying on the cross, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.'” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots” (Luke 23:34).
Let’s pray:
Dear father,
Free us today from the bitter thoughts that have settled in our souls and allow them to take root and grow in our hearts. Soften our hearts to forgive those who have hurt us. This will remove any resentment towards them.
As we ask for Your help in forgiving others, we also ask You to soften the hearts of those who have hurt us and draw them to You so that they may ask for repentance and receive Your forgiveness.
After all, their sins are against you and you should forgive them.
Strengthen us so that we can let go of all bitter thoughts and cleanse ourselves from them.
As Paul confesses in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Therefore, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us purify ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
In the name of Jesus,
Amen.
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Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/twpixels
Lynette Kittle is married and has four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her work has been published in Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and elsewhere. She holds a master’s degree in communications from Regent University and is an associate producer at Soul Check TV.
Related Resources: Let God Reshape Your Year: Psalm 107 Year-End Review
As we close this year, we would like to invite you to this meaningful spiritual practice. It’s about looking back on the year through the lens of Psalm 107 and “identifying the traces of God’s faithfulness.” In this episode, we look at four stories of salvation found in Psalm 107. Each represents a way God saves, restores, and redirects His people. Whether you felt lost, trapped, hurt, self-destructive, or overwhelmed. Dear Storm, I encourage you to reflect on how God met you in your weakness and brought you salvation. This episode is a show that brings Bible reading to life and helps you understand even the most difficult parts of the Bible. If this episode helped you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
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