Five Ways to Beat Bitterness: #1 – Worship

Aaron Blumer

Bitterness often begins as a normal—maybe even healthy—response to the losses, disappointments, failures, and unfairnesses of life. In that sense, the term “bitterness” is pretty much synonymous with mental, spiritual, emotional (and often also physical) pain.

But the Bible reveals that when indulged and nurtured, bitterness becomes an infection of the inner man that taints—and has the potential to corrupt—all our activities and relationships. I’ve written about the forms and harms of bitterness previously (see Bitterness Happens, and Six Ways Bitterness Can Poison Our Lives).

The good news is that both Scripture and experience (as application of biblical principles) point us toward some practical strategies for overcoming bitterness in our lives before, or even after, it becomes a chronic problem.

Discussion

What Is Meditation?

Filings

“Eastern religions often encourage their practitioners to “empty” themselves through meditation in order to achieve enlightenment or lasting peace and harmony. … Christian forms of meditation are closely associated with prayer. Prayer is a conversation with another to whom we turn—someone outside ourselves.” - Ligonier

Discussion

How Exactly Do I Meditate? Protestant and Catholic Visions in Tension

Filings

“The two approaches represent differing convictions about Scripture and tradition, and differing understandings of meditation itself. The Protestant practice… esteems the primacy of Scripture, treats meditation as a path for the whole Christian pilgrimage, and far better serves real communion with God.” - Desiring God

Discussion

Find Happiness by Planting Yourself Deeply in God’s Word

Filings

“How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2, CSB) - Randy Alcorn

Discussion

Maybe We Make Meditation Too Difficult

Filings

“I wonder if we’ve made it a little too abstract, a little too inactive, and perhaps a little too solitary. What is meditation? Meditation is pondering the words of the Bible with the goal of better understanding and sharper application.” - Challies

Discussion

Start the Day Happy in God

Filings

“Some of us are gaunt, frail Christians because we’ve learned, like our world, to cater to the whims of our own fickle hearts rather than direct them and determine to reshape them.” - Desiring God

Discussion

Why I Transcribe the Bible During My Quiet Time

Filings

“Nothing complicated: I take a notebook, open the Bible, and start copying God’s words. One by one. I focus on the book I’m studying at that time.” - TGC

Discussion

On Stillness, Part 5: In Your Heart

Filings

“…thinking deeply on God’s Word is easier to accomplish if you have it in your head—and your heart. The obvious way to accomplish that is by memorizing it.” - Olinger

Discussion