How to Avoid Being Bitter (Christianity)

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Do not seek revenge: Jesus gives us clear guidelines in forgiveness - "Father... forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors... Matthew 6:9-13.

   So we have to forgive others, because we want our Heavenly Father to forgive us, not one of us are perfect, we cannot stay bitter.
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   Step 2: Do this

   But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." We have to do it, if we want God to forgive us. ,,: the pain of divorce, or a horrifying rape comes back to mind
   -- then you declare aloud: "Satan I 'have already' forgiven this person and 'choose' not to be bitter anymore".
   
   Forgiveness is a commandment.
   
   Mark 11:25 "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you."
   
   Our situation looks small in comparison to what Jesus has experienced, and yet Jesus said, "Father forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing."
   
   46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." But, you know that "God's love is perfect love"
   
   but can we ever earn perfection? No! He perfected His gift of love/grace in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us so that we may be perfect in His grace
   -- "perfected by grace". ,
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   Step 3: otherwise God will "not" forgive us: Matthew 6:14-15 states "if you forgive men when they sin against you

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   Step 4: your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.

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   Step 5: Make a decision to forgive

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   Step 6: even if you have been hurt by words or actions of people -- yet you decide to immediately forgive the person

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   Step 7: no matter how you feel: Then you say aloud

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   Step 8: "Father I choose to forgive this person" and the pain disappears.

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   Step 9: Take this big step toward obedience

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    Step 10: as soon as you have forgiven but still memories of the specific person or incident

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    Step 11: Avoid a grudge like: "what that person has done to me is unforgivable" -- but

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    Step 12: compare this to what people did to Jesus

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    Step 13: the betrayal and the crucifixion.

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    Step 14: Remember that Jesus said: (Matthew 5:43-48) "You have heard that it was said

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    Step 15: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’: "44 But I say to you

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    Step 16: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

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    Step 17: 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good

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    Step 18: and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

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    Step 19: Guard your heart: be careful to whom and what you give your affections; this is an important principle also to avoid getting entangled again

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    Step 20: overcome by those things again

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    Step 21: or else the end could be worse than the beginning.

Detailed Guide

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