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<!--[endif]--> There is Hope
Ministries (30 April 2009)
Overcoming Bitterness
Patrick Morley said that we all have
disappointments, large and small, that get us down.
In his book: Second Wind for
the Second Half, he asks the daunting question: “How can a man not get
what he wants and still be happy?
Many people go through life with the intense
pain of bitterness. Bitterness because
of various reasons: Disappointment, expectations not being met, a sense that
you deserve better. Perhaps sometimes you
experience how people close to you do not acknowledge or appreciate you for who
you are. The list goes on…
People handle
bitterness in different ways. Things like pretending there is no pain, revenge,
gossip, divorce, separation, withdrawal, trying to forget about it, etc. The problem with all these negative solutions
is the fact that it only leads deeper into a downward spiral.
Refuse to Forgive
Personally I agree with Patrick that
bitterness is only the price of not forgiving.
By forgiving others, you will be delivered
from the stronghold of bitterness!
Patrick
Morley says ‘it is without regard to whether or not the party, who offended you,
seeks Forgiveness.’ He says that ‘forgiving
others is not contingent on their seeking forgiveness. Forgiving them is for the health of your
heart – not theirs. (If they seek
forgiveness then they can get a healthy heart too) Don’t let what they do, or don’t do, block
you from setting yourself free from the gnarly, tangled root of bitterness.’
The Bible says, “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly
remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at
the altar. Go and be reconciled to that
person. Then come and offer your
sacrifice to God.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
Seek Forgiveness
Patrick says that ‘in the same way we have
been hurt by others, we have hurt them.’
For this reason, I believe that the mutual
healing process can be accelerated if you are willing to seek forgiveness from
those you have hurt.
Repeatedly Offer Forgiveness
Morley says ‘by forgiving the sin of other,
you will be free from the stronghold of bitterness!’
In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asked Jesus a
question on forgiveness, on which Jesus gave him a solid answer:
‘Then Peter came to him and asked,
“Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven
times?”
“No,
not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”’
‘Jesus meant as often as
someone sins against you.’
Why don’t we pray together right now?
Prayer for You
God Almighty, I bring this reader friend, whom
You love so much, before You.
Give him/her the grace to acknowledge any
bitterness in his/her life. Help him/her
to be able to forgive the sins of those who trespass against him/her.
Heal his/her heart and make him/her stronger
than the pain so real in his/her life.
Minister to him/her in a way that he/she will experience
change and start loving again, notwithstanding.
Lord, grand him/her again freedom in his/her
heart. Let him/her experience Your
peace.
I pray this in the precious, powerful Name of
our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen
Sandwich for the Road
Patrick Morley
use the story in his book about the traveler who was offered a lift by wagon,
and refused to take off his heavy pack, with the explanation: “Oh no, young man, I couldn’t do
that. It was enough that you offered me
this ride. I couldn’t expect you to carry
my burden too” (Hannah Whitall Smith)
Why this Big Sacrifice?
In Romans
8:18-30, through the pen of the Apostle Paul, we find the answer for
perseverance: Never to give up. There is Hope!
18
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us
later. 19 For all creation is
waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children
really are. 20 Against its
will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to
the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and
decay. 22 For we know that
all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the
present time. 23 And we
believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a
foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin
and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us
our full rights as his adopted children, [Greek: wait anxiously for sonship] including the new bodies he has promised
us. 24 We were given this
hope when we were saved. (If we already
have something, we don’t need to hope [wait] for it. 25 But if we
look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and
confidently.)
(Romans 8:18-25 NLT)
Seek a Mentor
As social beings,
we sometimes need a friend, mentor or coach to walk alongside us. Someone who perhaps has experienced similar
scenarios in life, willing to help carry the load. Someone who can be an accountability partner,
checking me up on my commitments.
Different
Options: (We can help you with the following)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
Mentoring:<!--[endif]-->
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.
Are you interested in how to receive Christ as your Saviour
and Lord?<!--[endif]-->
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.
As a Christian, do you experience defeat and emotional
conflict?<!--[endif]-->
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.
<!--[endif]-->Do you need material that can help you grow in your
relationship with the Lord?
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
Coaching:<!--[endif]-->
‘Coaching is a method of directing, instructing and training a
person or group of people, with the aim to achieve some goal or develop
specific skills.’ – Wikipedia.
‘Coaching is an
ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses
or organizations.’ – Marcia Wieder
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
Retreat:<!--[endif]-->
Plan a break-away (individual, family or corporate), where you can
spend some time in a structured, informal, & relaxed environment to work
things through.
Use TIHM’s Web Form to contact us, and spell out your need.
Book: Second Wind for the Second Half
The chapter on Overcoming Bitterness can be found in Patrick
Morley’s book,
Second Wind
for the Second Half. (Also the author of the well known – Man in the Mirror)
This powerful book is especially written for those going through changes in
life.
It can be ordered through our office.
Email us with your order: hope@hope365.co.za
Until
the whole world knows,
Pieter Brits
Director: There is Hope Ministries
Internet, Mentoring, Coaching & Training
Ministry Information:
Office
(08h00–16h00): 028
271 5124
Email: hope@hope365.co.za
Evangelism Page #1: www.hope365.co.za
Evangelism Page #2: www.KnowingGod.co.za
Donate R5 & SMS : HOPE, to 36836
help ONE more to be exposed to the Gospel through our ministry.
Look out for TIHM’s ‘NEWSFLASH’ / ‘Prayer for you’ every 3-4 weeks!
We aim
to keep it interesting, instructive and instrumental to aid you in
your
Spiritual growth, as child of God.
You are
welcome to forward
this letter to friends & colleagues.
Please
include my address, so I can add them
in
future communications from ‘There is Hope Ministries’.
(Only if not forwarded before!)
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