Forgiveness is so important ...

       During the vacation I took my children to see"Zootopia." I thought it was going to be another cartoon I would have to labor through for their sake but I actually enjoyed it. As i went through my prayer time with God many hours later and different thoughts traversed my mind, I recalled one of the characters in that movie - the assistant mayor. She felt for a long time underappreciated and invisible. She wanted so badly to be acknowledged and appreciated for her hard work.  Unfortunately, behind her seemingly sweet exterior, lay a very disturbed and dangerous character.
       But how could this be? It was simple. She had allowed a root of bitterness to grow to the point where she would do anything to destroy others. Sounds sinister for a children's cartoon but sadly that's also real life and is a reflection of the world we live in. Hebrews 12:15 says: "Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many" (NLT). Hurt and disappointment, if unchecked, can lead to bitterness. Forgiveness is so important! We nurse grudges over past hurts and feet justified in our bitterness. Unfortunately, this "root" is poisonous enough to destroy our relationships and even lives. Jealously, envy, dissension and immorality step in. We are consumed with hatred and bitterness and are inevitably unhappy. However, when we first acknowledge our bitterness and second give it to God He is able to remove it and to clean up all the mess made because of it. He heals the hurts, enables us to forgive and brings restoration to our lives. We don't have to do it on our own, that's what God is there for - to help clean up the messes we make and turn them into testimonies that can uplift and encourage lives.

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