“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:  looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Heb 12:14, 15)

Bitterness starts as a personal sin but its spreads very fast. Your heart is God’s garden. He plants holy seeds.  “If the root is holy, so are the branches”. God has to right to visit anytime and expects delight in what He finds there. Look carefully, inspect and be jealous over your heart, for out of it overflows the Word of life. The Holy Spirit plants seeds of love, joy, peace, patience and kindness that will become sweet fruits and abundant harvest.

The devil plants weeds to spoil the beauty and the value of the garden. These strange plants cause trouble everywhere. Weeds are very difficult the remove. One of it is called ‘the root of bitterness’. It grows very deep. It spreads very fast. ‘Bitterness’ comes from the word ‘to bite’. Bitterness is like a poisonous snake in the garden. When it is little, it looks nice and innocent. It adds ‘color’ to the garden…or so we think…But one day it will manifest and will try to bite the gardener. It causes trouble to the other good plants. It oppresses, harasses and annoys them. It pollutes them so that they become weak and sad. Spiritual weakness and depression may be a sign that a spell of bitterness is over you. Pray and find its source. Separate it quickly before more damage is done! Remove the ‘snake’ from your garden! Every plant the Father has not planted shall be uprooted at last!

A bitter man takes the grace of God for granted; he wastes all its loving warnings and rebukes. He is an enemy of the Cross. The word ‘fall short’ means to be inferior, to be deficient or to miss its blessings. It is like man going to the airport to board the only plane that goes to heaven. Somebody paid for his ticket. But he comes too late. He missed it!  Esau cried at the “Airport of Life” but his tears could not manufacture another plane. This is so sad…

Pray that God reveals if there is any root of bitterness in your heart. Try to remember the most painful event in your life, the greatest disappointment. How did you survive that pain? The only solution for anger is found at the Cross of Christ. Any other location will recycle your pain into false hope and deep bitterness. Any other ‘god’ will plant a snake in the garden of your heart.

Lastly…This is a good time to appreciate the grace of God over your life. Worship God who sent His Only Begotten Son to die for you! There is no better Word I have for you than this…

In Christ I declare:

I repent of every connection or sympathy I had with bitter people who are angry with God!

I repent for indulging in doubt!

I repent from the sin of un-forgiveness!

I uproot and reject every root of bitterness!

I kill the biting snake of rebellion deposited in my heart!

Let every drop of bitterness be changed into Holy Spirit’ sweetness in my heart!

Holy Spirit please come and fill me!

In Jesus name

Amen!