Psalm 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
5 They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else....
12 Look at these wicked people--enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14 I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain...
17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19 In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.
20 When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant- I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23 Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
27 Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.
28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Have you ever felt that way? Sometimes it seems like the people who are doing it all wrong are getting all the benefits, they prosper despite their wickedness, while I, who am trying to do everything right, am left in the dust. I need to remember that their destiny is far different from mine, they are headed for destruction while I have been promised a glorious destiny- a place in Heaven.
Bitterness can enter into our lives because of envy, anger, hurt, feeling unappreciated or overworked. It sneaks in and can remain unnoticed until it has grown in deep.
Hebrews 12:14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
Think about the kind of damage a root is capable of. They can tear up concrete and break through foundations. My Grandma lives in an older neighborhood that has sidewalks lining the streets. Along them there are lots of trees that have grown up over the years and their roots have grown large and broken up the sidewalks making them uneven and cracked. When I was a little girl I would roller-skate down those sidewalks and I don’t know how many times I tripped over one of those big cracks made by those tree roots and skinned my knees. My favorite places were the sections that had been resurfaced, because they were smooth and even. God can remove the cracks and the torn up or ruined places in your life. He can make you new and whole. The longer you hold on to bitterness, the more damage it will do. Fight bitterness with thankfulness. Its hard to be bitter and thankful at the same time. Thank God that we can rely totally on Him for strength, support, shelter, and love. We don't need to look for our value or worth in the approval of others, we are loved by our Father God. Read through the list below and just take a moment to be thankful for what we have in Christ. No matter what our situation, we can always find something to be thankful for.
2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
5 They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else....
12 Look at these wicked people--enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14 I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain...
17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19 In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.
20 When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant- I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23 Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
27 Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.
28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Have you ever felt that way? Sometimes it seems like the people who are doing it all wrong are getting all the benefits, they prosper despite their wickedness, while I, who am trying to do everything right, am left in the dust. I need to remember that their destiny is far different from mine, they are headed for destruction while I have been promised a glorious destiny- a place in Heaven.
Bitterness can enter into our lives because of envy, anger, hurt, feeling unappreciated or overworked. It sneaks in and can remain unnoticed until it has grown in deep.
Hebrews 12:14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
Think about the kind of damage a root is capable of. They can tear up concrete and break through foundations. My Grandma lives in an older neighborhood that has sidewalks lining the streets. Along them there are lots of trees that have grown up over the years and their roots have grown large and broken up the sidewalks making them uneven and cracked. When I was a little girl I would roller-skate down those sidewalks and I don’t know how many times I tripped over one of those big cracks made by those tree roots and skinned my knees. My favorite places were the sections that had been resurfaced, because they were smooth and even. God can remove the cracks and the torn up or ruined places in your life. He can make you new and whole. The longer you hold on to bitterness, the more damage it will do. Fight bitterness with thankfulness. Its hard to be bitter and thankful at the same time. Thank God that we can rely totally on Him for strength, support, shelter, and love. We don't need to look for our value or worth in the approval of others, we are loved by our Father God. Read through the list below and just take a moment to be thankful for what we have in Christ. No matter what our situation, we can always find something to be thankful for.