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Burnt But Not Bitter

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Hebrews 12:15

Have you been burnt? Abused, lied to, misunderstood? We all have at one time. But God doesn’t want us being controlled by it; He wants us to let it go and move on. When you subdue your feelings and let them stew under the surface, you give the enemy a foothold. But by dealing with it before it becomes a stronghold, your painful experiences can make you better - not bitter. If you’re struggling today, take these three life-changing steps:

(1) Forgive! Forgiveness isn’t based on a feeling, but on a decision. If you’re waiting until you feel like forgiving - forget it! You must decide to let the offense go. When you do, God will heal your emotions and help you resist the urge to retaliate. Jesus said, "however you want people to treat you, so treat them" (Matthew 7:12).

(2) Take it to God! The minute you feel resentful, turn to God and He’ll give you the strength to act in love, rather than react in anger. The moment you commit to living this way, God promises, "power to hold [yourself] calm in the days of adversity" (Psalm 94:13).

(3) Re-program yourself! Look up every Scripture you can find on love and forgiveness. Meditate on them daily. Remember, each time you choose to do the right thing, a little more of the ‘old you’ dies, and the ‘new you’ develops.

That’s how God prepares you for greater blessing. So decide today that, although you’ve been burnt - you won’t become bitter!

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me today to forgive and let go of past hurts and injustices so that I can move on and that you can go forward with what you want in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen