Protect Your Heart Against Bitterness

By Kimberly Morgan

A heavy pounding sound came from my heart as I rested my hands on my chest after a run. There was another beat I felt that also brought discomfort and distress. I disliked this feeling. I was used to hearing different sermons which speak to 'Guarding your Heart' . I was one of those persons who never thought bitterness would one day be at my doorsteps. I always believed in forgiveness and it was something I always practiced, but I was hurt by someone I emulated and trusted and forgiveness seemed a little harder than I thought. I was now being tested to live what I preach. I was dying inside because I was dealing with things on my own terms. There was no room for the Word of God to permeate my heart and soul. Whenever I would go into the same space that the person was in, I would always resort to being quiet and resentful. I was bitter, angry and moody. The issues of my heart were flowing and overflowing. Ugliness and sin was flowing from my heart. When my friends would speak to me my response was sometimes sharp and unpleasant. I was saddened with my current state. Who was this person I was becoming I would ask?

The state of my heart affected my attitude in a negative way because I failed to keep it in check with the Word of God.

My transformation, healing and deliverance came about by being cognizant of my emotion and how I responded to things. I was mindful to allow God to have control and not my feelings. I was deliberate in dismissing every negative thought and closed every door or channel that the enemy would have seen fit to use to contaminate my heart. I held 1 Peter 5:8 dare to my heart, which encouraged me to be sober, be vigilant because your adversary; the devil, as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. Although I was hurting, I reflected on Matthew 6:15 which says, “ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses ” . I wasn 't happy with my present condition so I asked the Lord to create in me a clean heart daily and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10), this was when I saw the shackles of unforgiveness break free from my life. Are you struggling with an issue today? Are you guarding and keeping your heart with all diligence today?

What is the reading heart thermometer today? We have to be intentional as believers that we are guarding our spiritual heart and keeping it from anything that may affect our relationship with God or how we represent him here on earth. It' s important to keep our hearts in tune with God so that we deal with what we ' re experiencing and people in a Godly and right way. Guarding one ' s heart helps us to be diligent of anything that is foreign and may cause us to be spiritually sick. Toxic inside our hearts means toxic out; but if we feed on the word are and guided by His spirit, then we will produce good fruits.

What type of fruits is your heart producing today? Is it hatred, anger, jealousy, deceit, covetousness, malice, bitterness or is it love, joy, peace, forgiveness and righteousness? God wants to help us get rid of the bad attitudes which lie on the inside of us. He wants to help us uproot those behaviors that have taken root in our lives that we sometimes project unto others. We saw where the condition of Joseph' s brothers ’ heart depicted hatred and hostility towards their own. When one ’ s heart is not kept in check it is prone to manifest itself in different ways. We think, say and act in ways that are contrary to the will of God; things that our father doesn 't approve of. Points to Ponder/Consider

If you feel or recognize that there are issues flowing from your heart that you ’ re concerned about; issues that are unhealthy, issues that are affecting those around you,then check in with your God, your physician! Don 't put a Band-Aid on it, but connect with God, utilize the word and apply it to your life. If the mind is renewed then the heart will be in tune.

Prayers That Heal The Heart

Father, in the name of Jesus, I repent for all bitterness and all other negative emotions towards others. I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that the fruit of Your Spirit according to Galatians 5 can be seen in my life. I am grateful that I have a Father that I can reach out to and who is always willing to respond. Help me to become the loving and peaceful person that you created me to be. If there is any physical ailment inside of me created by a negative spiritual heart condition, remove it by Your power and set me free so that my heart can he healed and whole; ready to do your perfect will. Thank You Father. Let your peace be perfected in my life. In The name of Jesus.

AMEN!

TIME TO RECEIVE JOY & PEACE OF THE LORD