Day 21 of Lent 2020

Well, we have passed the half-way point of Lent making ourselves better before Easter. How are you doing? Have you made any small changes yet? Keep going! Try something new. It’s going to be worth it.

Bitterness is an easy emotion to slip into. There will always be something to complain about. There will always be problems. There will always be people you cannot get along with. How do you handle those things? Do you roll with it with grace and love? Or do you slip into bitterness and hate?

An excerpt from the book I am reading this Lent.

You need to know that bitterness is a tool of the devil. Bitterness destroys relationships. Bitterness locks us in isolation. Bitterness prevents us from experiencing God’s healing. We need to strive to release ourselves from the bitterness. Nothing good ever comes from holding on to it. Nothing!

Ressler, Phil. 40 Things to Give Up for Lent and Beyond: A 40 Day Devotion Series for the Season of Lent (p. 75). Kindle Edition.

One way to dissolve bitterness is forgiveness. Forgiveness is difficult to do and you can’t do it alone. You need God to intervene in your heart to open it up to forgiveness. When we say, “I forgive you,” it is way more powerful than saying, “I’m sorry” because it requires action from both parties involved and a huge weight can be taken off of your shoulders.

Is there anyone you need to forgive? Is there some bitterness in your life? Is there always something wrong in your life and you focus on that? Take some time to pray to God for forgiveness and help you see the sweetness of love and joy in your life.