As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“For many believers around the world, life is more treacherous than most of us can imagine. Those of us who know only peace and freedom have little understanding of what others face. Ongoing war. Persistent famine. Overwhelming poverty. Growing persecution. And on and on.” - Chuck Lawless
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.
A sermon (No. 1469) delivered on Lord’s-Day morning, April 20th, 1879, by C. H. Spurgeon
At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington
“In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”—Philippians 4:6.
“…as we consider the three instances of the word ‘thanks’ in Revelation, we could better ask, What will go on in heaven? These thanks are in the future. Nonetheless, this study is meant to encourage us to give thanks to God in the present, whether now or at any time of the year.” - P&D
“What are we to do when we don’t feel grateful but know we ought to be? Is gratitude duty or an emotional response?” - CToday
Read the series.
We live under the shadow of God’s providence—his provision, his direction, his protection. All of our life springs from that truth. So when we speak to him, we should speak thankfully.
And when we speak to others, we should speak thankfully as well, because their presence in our lives, and the things their presence supplies, are all acts of God’s providence too.
“The apostle Paul models that art of recognition in Romans 16. He shows us how easy, yet powerful it is when we acknowledge those who are working hard serving Jesus and His Church.” - Baptist Press
“God isn’t just in life’s monumental things. He’s present in the little things: rain drops, the artistry of spider webs, and the sound of an acoustic guitar. A child’s laugh…. If we disregard these and thousands of other gifts, we don’t just fail to notice them, we fail to notice God.” - Randy Alcorn
“The custom of praying to thank God for each meal is a wonderful one. But why should we restrict this custom to meals? Why not thank God throughout the day for a hundred other things?” - Randy Alcorn
By C.H. Spurgeon
Sermon No. 1094, delivered on Lord’s-Day morning, February 2, 1873, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington.
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20.
Discussion