Back to the pruning the spirit of our past…   The first traits I want to write about are anger and bitterness that we have toward others.  These are results from unforgiveness either toward yourself or someone else.  Back to the trees…  It’s really important to remove dead leaves, limbs, etc from a tree because they continually draw from the healthy part of the tree.  This drains the tree of the nutrients needed for the rest of the healthy tree.  Eventually more limbs begin to die.  Over a course of many years, the tree could completely die if not taken care of.  That’s what happens to us in our lives. 

Have you ever been involved with someone that is always negative about everything and everyone around them?  I have.  When we don’t let go of the anger and bitterness within us, it begins to take over and destroy our whole life.  You begin to try to hide that anger, hurt, or bitterness through abuse of ourselves and others, addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling and others forms of addiction that keeps our minds temporarily focused off our past.  OUR PAST- something we can’t change!  Change doesn’t happen in our past. Change only happens in our future.  The key to changing our response to our past is FORGIVENESS of ourselves and others.
 
Forgiveness to most of us that have been hurt and abused in some form, find it almost impossible to forgive.  We continue to blame that person or persons over and over again for making us what we are today.  But you see forgiveness towards ourselves and others is not a choice if you want be saved.  The Word says in Matthew 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  Think it about it.  That’s a pretty strong statement! We won’t be forgiven if we don’t forgive.  You see, unforgiveness affects you and everyone else that you are involved with.  The anger, bitterness, abuse to others and yourself all come from unforgiveness in your life.  Look at what Hebrews 12:14-15 says, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.  Those ugly traits that you have taken on will defile others as the Word of God says.  We want to think we are hiding them from others but we are not.  Our actions toward others is a result of what is in our heart. Those that have been abused will abuse either themselves or others in their lives.   The Living Bibles says it this way in Hebrews 12:14-15, Try to stay out of all quarrels, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for one who is not holy will not see the Lord.  Look after each other so that not one of you will fail to find God's best blessings. Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives. 

Yes, you can overcome unforgiveness! It takes only one day at a time by renewing your mind in the Word.  Every time you have a past memory come to you that causes you negative feelings, give it to God.  Tell Him I forgive that person and what they have done to me.  Get specific if that is what comes to your mind. As you are doing this you are renewing your mind and releasing yourself from those negative emotions that is stealing your life from you and keeping you from being saved.   I remember my pastor’s wife telling me a few years ago, Tammy, you can make to heaven physically handicapped; without  hands, feet, legs or arms.  But you can’t make it to heaven emotionally  or spiritually handicapped; unforgiveness, hatred, bitterness, anger and all the other negative attitudes buried in our hearts.  Ephesians 4:31-32 says, Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. To be continued…