Day 48 "The roots of bitterness run deep and deadly yet the yet true forgiveness kill's them all"

Day 48
Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
The word trespasses refers here to transgression or violation, so in essence Jesus is warning us that in order to receive grace freely we must freely give grace. All too often we hear from the wronged that they deserve the right to be angry, that they are after all the victims. In the Church today we have I believe far too many who are walking in un-forgiveness, which ultimately results in a loss of pure fellowship with God. This means that due to their lack of forgiveness, He is unable to forgive them, a vicious and non-productive circle. Another result of lack of forgiveness is that it can lead to bitterness, and bitterness like a weed takes quick root, and becomes very difficult to destroy. The crop of bitterness is torment which grows all too quickly, it multiplies with little help, growing in the slightest of cracks, beware of bitterness. I personally believe mental institutions all over the world are filled with bitter tormented people, most of which don't remember why their anger runs so deep. So here we sit wondering why God is not speaking to us, getting angry with Him, when all along we are the ones to blame because of our unwillingness to forgive those who have offended us. Here is the craziest of all truths they all too often don't even know or remember that they have offended you. Hence others bind us up both in the spirit and in the flesh, when freedom is only a prayer away! Recently a person very close to me shared how after years of being influenced by the pain she inflicted upon her former stepmother she came to terms and decided to openly and directly seek her forgiveness. After a few moments of sharing with her, the former stepmother said, "pardon me but I don’t know what you’re talking about" All of the pain, the hurt, and the fears suddenly made no sense, this woman didn't even remember. Don't let your enemies hold you in bondage, take away their power with the same forgiveness and grace that Jesus took away your sins with
Daily Prayer: Father help us to not hold on to the hurts, pains, and bitterness heaped upon us by others, and if I have a root of bitterness please show me Lord that it may be uprooted forever, help me Lord to walk in the freedom of forgiveness. Amen.
"The roots of bitterness run deep and deadly yet the yet true forgiveness kill's them all"
Pastor Gene Burroughs