DATE: Sun 31st Dec, 2023
Daily Devotional By Dr Paul Enenche.
TOPIC: BITTERNESS: THE HINDRANCE TO PRAISE
SCRIPTURE: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Hebrews 12:15.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The seed or root of bitterness will produce the fruit of trouble, that is, systemic trouble.
You are welcome to the last day of the year. God has been faithful over our lives, and we give Him praise.
Today, a very crucial thing to do is praising God. It is strategically important to praise your way into the NEW YEAR, 2024. Praise is needed in crossing from one junction of life to another; appreciation is necessary for crossing from one season of life to another.
However, bitterness is a hindrance to praise. It is a hindrance to praising your way into the New Year. Therefore, it is necessary to deal with bitterness so that our praise to God can be accepted for us to successfully cross into the New Year.
You see, bitterness is disastrous and dangerous. And the danger and disaster of bitterness is that bitterness troubles the system.
Hebrews 12:15 says,
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
The seed or root of bitterness will produce the fruit of trouble, that is, systemic trouble.
In medicine, there are destructive hormones that come into activity when the system is filled with negative emotions. Feeling of bitterness, anger and depression release some destructive hormones into the system, and these are devastating hormones.
These hormones, in some places, will cause what is called psychosomatic illnesses, which are mind-related sicknesses. These illnesses include various forms of arthritis, ulcer, hypertension, migraine, and in some extreme cases, cancer.
Now, all the illnesses mentioned above may not be caused by bitterness; but bitterness will accentuate or facilitate them.
I remember visiting a woman some years ago with my wife. This woman was dying of a terminal disease, cancer. And while we were in the process of praying for her, the Holy Spirit said, “Ask her to forgive her husband.”
And we asked her, “You need to forgive your husband. Is there any challenge?”
Then she said, “Oh, I can’t forgive that man”
Then I asked her what happened, and she said that she started together with the man and built their home together. They built a duplex and had other properties together, but the man kicked her out and brought in another girl to inherit her sweat. This was the cause of her illness.
My counsel is: ask God for the grace to forgive all offences and offenders for the sake of your own health and wellbeing. You will end well in Jesus’ Name.
Remember this: The seed of bitterness will produce the fruit of trouble, that is, systemic trouble.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Do not allow your body system degenerate through bitterness.
- Ask God always for the grace to forgive all offences and offenders.
- Praise your way into the year 2024.
PRAYER: Lord, I ask that You deliver me from harbouring bitterness and resentment in my heart. I ask for Divine health as You help me to forgive all offences and offenders, Lord, in Jesus’ Name.
FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE ROOT OF BITTERNESS.
QUOTE: Bitterness also stems from an inability or a deliberate decision not to forgive. Culled from the book, “AM I BITTER?” by Dr (Mrs) Becky Paul-Enenche.
DAILY READING: Revelations 20-22
AMAZING FACT: The world’s largest passenger airliner, the Airbus A380, has about 4 million parts.
PROPHETIC DECLARATION/WORD: Cross successfully into the New Year with great testimonies in Jesus’ Name.
