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(Bitterness, Bad attitudes, Hurt feelings)
Emotion is described as the moving of the feeling or the agitation of the mind due to any of the various phenomena such as anger, joy, fear, sorrow etc. associated with an outside cause.
Emotions are usually spontaneous and it is an every day struggle and it can often lead us to make decisions : Righteous or unrighteous.
As disciples we need to learn from the scriptures as to how to control our emotions and to continue to do what is right in the eyes of God.
Some of the emotions that we struggle with so often are that of bitterness, hurt feelings and bad attitudes.
1. What is bitterness, hurt feeling etc?
i) Bitterness is the feeling of resentment that we hold against someone who would have done something hurtful.
ii) Bad attitudes is attitudes that we have against someone or against a lot of people because of hurts, insenstive talks, insensitive dealings etc. Now are these feelings right or wrong? Do we have to talk about it or not? Will the other person get hurt if they are talked about? Bitterness and hurt feeling will creep up at some point or the other.
2. The way to deal with it is:
(i) Identity your sin : Pro 14:10 says that each heart learns its own fillings. We know our own hearts. We know as to what we are struggling with.
Romans 3:14
"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
It says that no one of us is rigthteous.
(ii) Get rid of the sin by talking about it.
Ephesians 4:30-32
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
This scripture says that we need to get rid of very kind of bitterness, anger and rage and instead be kind, compassionate and forgiving towards each other. If we do not do so as disciples, the Holy Spirit that lives in us is grieved..
(iii) It is wrong to follow our own feelings.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Following our own feelings could lead us to do someting against God.
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Our own hearts can deceive us.
So let's make a decision to repent of any such attitudes and get our hearts right with God.
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