All bitterness, anger and wrath, insult and slander must be removed from you, along with all wickedness. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. - Ephesians 4:31-32

The world holds few if any rewards for those who remain angrily focused upon the past.
Still, the act of forgiveness is difficult for all but the most saintly men and women.
Are you mired in the quicksand of bitterness or regret?
If so, you are not only disobeying God’s Word; you are also wasting your time.

Being frail, fallible, imperfect human beings, most of us are quick to anger, quick to blame, slow to forgive, and even slower to forget. Yet as Christians, we are commanded to forgive others, just as we, too, have been forgiven.

If there exists even one person—alive or dead—against whom you hold bitter feelings, it’s time to forgive. Or, if you are embittered against yourself for some past mistake or shortcoming, it’s finally time to forgive yourself and move on. Hatred, bitterness, and regret are not part of God’s plan for your life. Forgiveness is.

- Steve Arterburn


Anger breeds remorse in the heart, discord in the home, bitterness in the community, and confusion in the state. - Billy Graham


TODAY’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, free me from anger and bitterness. When I am angry, I cannot feel the peace that You intend for my life. When I am bitter, I cannot sense Your presence. Keep me mindful that forgiveness is Your commandment. Let me turn away from bitterness and instead claim the spiritual abundance that You offer through the gift of Your Son.
Amen

If you really seek truth about the world, which you are a member, then ask yourself, if you honestly can......
Why do you use the hate of others to justify and DENY YOURSELF of any semblance and opportunity of simple joy and happiness.....
Instead, opting to stew in the very porridge of those you hate and despise....why?

Do you not like yourself AS YOU ARE.....
But must prove something, to someone else, as a means to self acceptance?

I pray for you who seem so angry, caught in the snare of its powers over you.....

"must be removed from you..

Sounds like we can't make those changes by our own will. "

 It does sound like that, but I don't think its meaning "must be removed by someone other than you".  A lot of traditional translation into English comes across as it was written in the original post.

 Removed from you could simply mean it has to be removed in general.  Anything or anyone, including you could do it.

LostArtist wrote on 04/17/19 at 14:53:38:

.... just that they should realize that it's just that, THEIR interpretation...

Really ?
So when someone has a POV,
different than yours,
they are a,
LostArtist wrote on 04/17/19 at 14:05:49:

idiot

OR,
LostArtist wrote on 04/17/19 at 14:09:14:

hack

Eegore wrote on 04/17/19 at 14:13:10:


Exactly..... if you have trouble dealing with those listed issues, it is suggesting they need to be removed, for you to find peace, joy, etc.....
How you remove them is uo to everyones own ability.

MnSpring wrote on 04/17/19 at 15:20:53:


neither of those replies were because the view point was different

one was because the original poster, YOU, couldn't see that what was obvious and you completely failed to understand

and the other was because it's a very established, highly ingrained position that is not new or in any way insightful and was meant only to distract from the actual conversation via whataboutism

LostArtist wrote on 04/17/19 at 15:45:38:


You reap what you sow......

Jog......
I think each have to find their own discovery based on a true desire to change.
Change is a constant endeavor, not a set goal.
As believers, we know where the finality of the flesh is, and we reach beyond to the evermore, eternity, as promised.
God can NOT deny himself, period, no exceptions, no prisoners.
All things are lawful, but all things do not edify, and that is where each person needs the scrutiny of THEMSELVES, to see if they are indeed attaining that which they say they want, and BELIEVE.....

None of us can do it for another, for we lack the capacity to see beyond our OWN sin.
The bible is the road map, the directions, but its up to each to test themselves, and empower themselves, with it.

Make sense?  

I too had a awakening......

Mine was instantaneous, when I was at the end of my rope, and all I saw was two choices, as if I stood upon the edge of a cliff, I jump off, or I "change" me, even tho I had no idea HOW TO CHANGE me.

Jog, it was the very first time I quit playing with God, pretending, etc....
I frankly said, "God, if you are who you say you are, then take my life, I want nothing to do with it anymore....."

BOOM.........

I felt it......
I felt his presences....
I was changed, and just seconds ago I was thinking of jumping from that cliff, I now felt so peaceful, safe, and all the toxicity in my emotions, mind, thinking....gone.

I know its not like that for everyone, listening to their testimonies, but for me I had a instantaneous one that only took 50 years