Pulling bitter roots.

Hebrews 12:14-15
14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
 
The root of bitterness can be all consuming. In Acts it says that bitterness will keep you captive to sin. Paul tell the Ephesians to get rid off all bitterness. And Proverbs says that only the heart knows its own bitterness.
 
I am willing for the Lord to remove any bitter root that may be lurking below the surface just waiting to pop its tiny sprout through its cover to receive nurishing and sustainablitiy from the sunshine and then take over as a weed. Only God can completely destroy these roots. I can pull them all day, but they tend to leave pieces behind or break off at the base all together.
 
Lord make my garden fruit bearing and weed free. Keep all bitter roots from my life so that I may show love to all of those who would like to destroy me.

Isaiah 1:18 says New International Version (©1984)


"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

Verse of the Day from Bible Gateway

“You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.”- Psalm 86:5

One final note

Philippians 2:14-15
Do all things without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright stars in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Proverbs 28:13
People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will recieve mercy.

James 4:17
Remember it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

3John 1:11
Dear friend, don't let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

Proverbs 20:3
Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

Romans 12:18
Do all that you can to live at peace with everyone.

Proverbs 12:18
Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

Philippians 4:8
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.