Heart Strong | Part 3 | Forgiveness heals the heart

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 (NASB)

Bitterness poisons the heart

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”  Acts 8:20-23 (NIV)

Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. - Ron McManus

Forgiveness neutralizes the poison of bitterness

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29–32 (NIV)

Identify the hurt

Accept the pain

Keep giving over the right to retaliate to Jesus