Bitterness is its own prison. The sides are slippery with resentment. A floor of muddy anger stills the feet. The stench of betrayal fills the air and stings the eyes. A cloud of self-pity blocks the view of the tiny exit above

ROBERT CLEMENTS

“Bob,” he whispered, “my blood pressure’s gone up, I feel my head’s going to burst.”

I listened and advised him as best as I could. He was a successful businessman, but I had met him years ago before he got into business. What had shocked me was the anger he carried within. “I’ll show my relatives when I make money,” he said, “I’ll show my friends who I really am! I’ll show the world, not to make fun of me!”

And he did. But the anger, resentment and bitterness ate him up even more.

Max Lucado says:

“Resentment is the cocaine of the emotions. It causes our blood to pump and our energy level to rise. But, also like cocaine, it demands increasingly large and more frequent dosages. There is a dangerous point at which anger ceases to be an emotion and becomes a driving force. A person bent on revenge moves unknowingly further and further away from being able to forgive, for to be without the anger for him or her is to be without a source of energy.”

Hatred is the rabid dog that turns on its owner.

Revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist.

Bitterness is the trap that snares the hunter.

And mercy is the choice that can set them all free.

Anger is the noise of the soul.

Anger, the unseen irritant of the heart.

Anger, the relentless invader of silence…..

The louder it gets the more desperate we become….

Some of you are thinking….you don’t have any idea how hard my life has been. And you’re right, I don’t. But I have a very clear idea how miserable your future will be unless you deal with your anger.

X-ray the world of the vengeful and behold the tumor of bitterness: black, menacing, malignant. Its fatal fibers creep around the edge of the heart and ravage it. Yesterday you can’t alter, but your reaction to yesterday you can. The past you cannot change, but your response to your past you can.

Bitterness is its own prison. The sides are slippery with resentment. A floor of muddy anger stills the feet. The stench of betrayal fills the air and stings the eyes. A cloud of self-pity blocks the view of the tiny exit above. Step in and look at the prisoners. Victims are chained to the walls. Victims of betrayal. Victims of abuse.

You can choose, like many, to chain yourself to your hurt…. Or you can choose, like some, to put away your hurt before it becomes hatred….

How does God deal with your bitter, angry, resentful heart? He builds bridges by healing hurts. He prevents conflicts by touching the interior and He cultivates harmony by sowing seeds of peace in fertile hearts.

Allow Him to touch your heart today before blood pressure and heart attack gets you first!