protection – Boldly For Him

June 30, 2021July 1, 2021

Breaking Bitterness

Hebrews 12:15 (TPT);

“Watch over each other to make sure that no one misses the revelation of God’s Grace. And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.”

While preparing to write this blog, I heard the following statement from The Holy Spirit:

“YOU MUST BREAK BITTERNESS BEFORE IT BREAKS YOU!”

Stunned, I realized then that this is an urgent warning to all of us from The Heart of God!

What Is Bitterness?

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, Someone bitter is angry and unhappy because they cannot forget bad things that happened in the past.

How Does Bitterness Break Us?

First and foremost, bitterness will cause us to miss the revelation of God’s Grace, as stated in Hebrews 12:15. Without a revelation of God’s Grace, His Love will not be a tangible reality to us, and we will never be able to comprehend or receive true forgiveness for our sins. We will also be unable to extend Christ-Like Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness toward another individual who has sinned against us. Living in this perpetual state of un-forgiveness creates an atmosphere of torment in our souls and will manifest in our lives. This heavy load of bitterness then becomes a beast of burden that we carry around within us, and it will eventually break us.

Matthew 11:28-30 (TPT);

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me, I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.” “Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.” “For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”

This Word is Good News, my friend! Though the weight of bitterness will continually try to break us, God has an answer for us as we learn His Ways.

How Do We Break Bitterness?

Through Forgiveness!

The Oxford Languages Dictionary offers a simple and concise definition of the word forgive.

FORGIVE = Stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for (an offense, flaw, or mistake).

Matthew 6:14-15 (TPT);

“And when you pray, make sure you forgive the faults of others so that your Father in Heaven will also forgive you.” “But if you withhold forgiveness from others, your Father withholds forgiveness from you.”

This scripture is astounding! You and I can cause GOD TO WITHHOLD HIS FORGIVENESS FROM US, WHILE OUR PRAYERS GO UN-HEARD! When we choose to withhold forgiveness from someone who has hurt us or that we perceived has hurt us, we are planting a root of bitterness within our hearts. Unforgiveness keeps our prayers from effectively being heard by God! By not breaking bitterness, we forge a, “Barrier of Bitterness” over our hearts that repel the Love of God and His Blessings from flowing freely in our lives. Ultimately, if we refuse to identify and repent of bitterness, we will reject God and His Plan for our life!

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (MEV);

“For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” “Then you shall call upon Me, and you shall come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” “You shall seek Me and find Me when you shall search for Me with all your heart.”

Bitterness is spiritual cancer that can spread quickly by stealing our future and killing our hope. Thus, causing trouble and poisoning the hearts of many, starting with ours! A poisoned heart is a divided heart. It is imperative that you and I consciously recognize and BREAK BITTERNESS BEFORE IT BREAKS US! The survival rate of the God Given relationships in our lives depends on our willingness to forgive decisively and quickly.

Recently I heard a teaching from a well-respected, trusted minister of The Gospel who shares some valuable eye-opening insight regarding the root of bitterness. He described bitterness as undeveloped murder. Another way that he put it is, bitterness is murder in diapers. This minister then went on to relay a story that impacted me. During his ministry, he had counseled two different people on two different occasions, who were believers. They came to him for help to break free from the root of bitterness. However, these individuals were so consumed with the “Spirit of Bitterness,” that they both ended up killing people and are now in jail after rejecting his help! My friend, These brutal acts of murder are a sobering account of “The Root of Bitterness” in action.

1st John 3:15 (TPT) describes the minister’s tragic story for us;

“Everyone who keeps hating a fellow Believer is a murderer,” and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”

The message from The Lord is loud and clear, my friend. We must ”Break Bitterness Before It Breaks Us!”

1st John 4:20-21 (MEV);

“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” “We have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

What Barriers of Bitterness are weighing you down?

Is there anyone, or perhaps even yourself that you need to forgive?

Are you, “Breaking Bitterness or is it Breaking You?”

If Breaking Free From Bitterness has been a battle for you, please join me in the following prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I recognize today that I have been carrying the heavy burden of the sin of bitterness and un-forgiveness. I come to You and lay it down at Your feet. Please forgive me for walking in bitterness and un-forgiveness toward_________________(name the person or persons).

By an act of my will, I release them now and choose to forgive them for hurting me. Father God, If I have unknowingly hurt someone, I ask that you bring their name to me now, and I ask that you forgive me for hurting them in Jesus’ Name! Direct may path to restitution for the pain and hurt that I have caused them in this situation.

Lord, I now receive the total cleansing, healing, strength, and refreshing that comes from Your Presence as I walk with an upright heart before You, in Jesus’ Name! Amen! I Love You, Lord!

II Chronicles 7:14 (AMPC);

“If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

Be Strong and Live Free as you Break Bitterness………….. Boldly For Him!

Photo: Niel Taelman

September 8, 2019

Crossing Guard

Stepping into the crosswalk of a busy school intersection, on my morning walk with the Lord, I carried the weight of the year which threatened to implode on me. This was a mockery to Father God and I knew it! Just then an unassuming gentleman stepped toward me and with one swift motion of confident authority, he positioned himself between me and the on-coming traffic.

Suddenly, I heard the sharp sound of his whistle blow as he simultaneously with protective outstretched arms held up a “Stop Sign.” Knowing that he meant business, every car within the vicinity of that crosswalk immediately came to an abrupt stop. As I read, “Crossing Guard” on his shirt, I sensed The Presence of The Lord in a very tangible way. With tears streaming down my face, God let me know, that He was now and forever “My Personal Crossing Guard.” He would make sure that I safely cross every busy, dangerous and uncertain intersection that may come my way in life. He was gently reminding me of what I already knew but had so easily forgotten that morning. I am so grateful that as Believers in the Overcoming Blood of Jesus Christ that we have this Eternal Promise to stand on!

Isaiah 52:12 (AMP) articulates this truth so beautifully;

“For you will not go out with haste, nor will you go in flight [as was necessary when Israel left Egypt]; for The Lord will go before you, and The God of Israel will be your Rear Guard.”

The term, “Rear Guard” is a military term. In The Merriam Webster Dictionary, it is defined as A military detachment detailed to bring up and protect the rear of a main body or force.

My friend this is exciting news! Not only is God our, “Crossing Guard”, But He is also our, “Rear Guard.”

This means that God not only protects us when we miss it with our strengths, He also covers and protects us in our weaknesses. When our most vulnerable areas are under attack, He is there to help us safely cross over to the other side! To the other side of wisdom, stability, strength, and Victory in Jesus Name!

Psalm 46:1 (BSB) Explains this truth even further;

“God is our Refuge and Strength, an Ever-Present Help in times of trouble.”

To be, “Ever-Present” is to always “Be There.” He is not an absentee father, He is a Loving, Focused Father, A Trusted Confidante Who is Fully Aware of His Children at all times. No matter what trials, temptations or difficulties we may find ourselves in, He remains a Strong Tower, A Place of, “Refuge and Strength,” throughout every season of our lives.

I sense many of you that are reading this right now are struggling with the fact that God is Truly, “THERE FOR YOU.” We must ask ourselves the following questions so that we can pinpoint and eradicate any deadly root system of unbelief that would hinder the effectiveness of the Word of God from Being our, “Crossing Guard” in life.

Do I trust God with my strengths and my weaknesses?
What areas of vulnerability in my life am I struggling to trust God with?
What is hindering me from going to The Word of God to get the answers that I need?

My friend, Let God Himself assure you of His Unwavering Commitment TO YOU! The following lyrics are to a beautiful song penned thousands of years ago by King David, also known as The Psalmist David, who happens to be one of Jesus Christ’s direct ancestors.

Psalm 121 (AMP);

“I will lift my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]—From whence shall my help come from?” “My Help comes from The Lord Who made Heaven and Earth.” “He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber.” “Behold, He Who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” “The Lord is your Keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield].” “The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.” “The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.” “The Lord will keep your going out and you’re coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

Though King David had a moment where he was personally wondering, “where his help comes from?”, he quickly realized that “My Help comes from The Lord Who made Heaven and Earth.” So it is for us my friend, “Our Help comes from The Lord Who made Heaven and Earth!” We must never allow our flesh, our vulnerabilities, our weaknesses, and yes even our strengths keep us from accepting and walking in this fact. So many times, the enemy will tempt us to trust in our own strength or the “legs of men” to get us through a tough situation. Though God will work through men to bring assistance, provision, and guidance to us, He wants us to base our trust in Him and His Word. He wants us to realize that HE ALONE is our TRUE, “Crossing Guard!” He wants us to, “Be Strong and Live Free…….Boldly For Him!”

Proverbs 3:5-10 (TPT);

“Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make.” “Become intimate with Him in whatever you do, and He will lead you wherever you go.” “Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore Him with undivided devotion and avoid everything wrong.” “Then you will find the healing refreshment your body and spirit long for.” “Glorify God with all your wealth, honoring him with your very best, with every increase that comes to you.” “Then every dimension of your life will overflow with blessings from an uncontainable source of inner joy!”

August 12, 2018March 18, 2019

Fresh Oil

The car engine blew up and everything went into slow motion. With angry flames shooting from under the car’s hood reaching for the sky, I glanced over at my friend riding with me, the look of surprise, shock, and horror on her face told the whole story. Suddenly a white pick-up truck appeared on my left and the driver started motioning for me to pull over to the side of the road.

We were in the middle of a miracle and didn’t even know it!

Psalm 91:11 (TPT) says it this way: “God sends Angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm”.

To this day I can’t tell you how the flames stopped, the name of the guy, the (Angel), who I really believe helped us, or how I was able to calmly park my car on the side of the road. What I do remember is a young guy around my age walking over to the car, he asked us where we were going and I told him, he then said that he was going to that exact same area which was a good four hours drive from where we were at that moment! He then asked us if we wanted to get in the truck and that he would take us to wherever we needed to be, and that my car would be okay where we left it.

In a daze, my friend and I followed his instructions and got in the pick-up truck, the rest of the ride was a blur. However, I do remember him offering some insight and feedback on the car. He said that the car engine probably blew up from a lack of proper oil changes….I don’t remember EVER taking that car in for an oil change! I SHOULD have known better!

The moral of this true story? My car needed to have had regular, “oil changes” in order for the engine not to blow up and put me and my friend’s life in danger. So it is with our walk with The Lord, without “His Anointing”, “His Fresh Oil”, The “Holy Spirit” CONTINUALLY empowering us, our lives can explode into an angry blaze of, “self-effort” and “self-preservation”. Only to end in the smoldering ruins of “dead works” and “lifeless idols”.

How do we avoid this spiritual crash and burn? The answer can be found in,

Psalm 92:10 (TPT): “Your Anointing has made me strong and mighty. You’ve empowered my life for triumph by pouring fresh oil over me.”

There are several important points that God provides for us in this scripture that will keep our lives well oiled and running smoothly here on earth.

First of all, it is the recognition that it is “His Anointing” not our own human efforts that provide us with the strength and might that we need in order to run our race well.

Secondly, our lives are empowered for triumph by a continuous flow of “Fresh Oil”, a conscious continual yielding of our live’s to The Holy Spirit’s guidance on a daily basis. This permits Him to cleanse us, heal us, correct us, strengthen us and as I learned the hard way, protect us in our life’s journey as we abide in His Presence.

Thirdly notice that the Psalmist says that “fresh oil” is poured OVER us. My friend we are not just sprinkled with His Anointing we are Drenched and Saturated with Him as we yield to the ongoing leadership of The Holy Spirit in our lives! King David gives us a beautiful illustration of this truth in,

Psalm 23:5-6 (AMP), “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.” “Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days The House of The Lord [and His Presence} shall be my dwelling place.”

This Mighty Child of The Most-High God is how we can, “Be Strong and Live Free….Boldly For Him”!

Is It Time For “FRESH OIL”? Let’s do a systems check and find out.

1. Do you have the motivation and strength to carry on?
2. Are you easily provoked to anger and impatient with those around you, even total strangers?
3. When was the last time that you really enjoyed “The Presence of The Lord”, and sensed “His Pleasure” in you as His beloved son or daughter?
4. Are you allowing, “The Joy of The Lord to be your Strength and Stronghold”? Ref. Nehemiah 8:10.

November 5, 2017March 18, 2019

Guard The Gates

Having lived on military bases, I know firsthand the vital importance of “Guarding The Gates.” Approaching a military base can be rather intimidating, especially when a base has been placed on: “High Alert” because of some impending threat. Military Police are stationed at the entrance of the base operating out of a Guard Gate with a mandate to make sure that only military personnel, their family members and guests and those on, “official government business” have access to the base. The presence of this type of scrutiny was both comforting and unnerving at the same time.

It didn’t matter how many times I drove through those Guard Gates, The MP’s as they were known, would look to the windshield searching for the identifying symbol of rank and authorization in order to let me pass through.

A well trained MP would slow the car down, locate the military decal, recognize the Full Eagle symbol denoting my stepfather’s rank as a full Colonel, then come to full attention with a salute as I was cleared to pass through the Guard Gates. The MP would not rely on the familiarity of my face alone, in order to give me access to the base, even though I lived there.

When we accept Jesus Christ into our heart as Lord and Savior, we receive the promise of the “Full Salute of Our Salvation.” At that point, we are given the responsibility through the help of The Holy Spirit to become MP’s of our own heart as we, “Guard the Gate of Our Lives.” The Bible says it this way in Proverbs 4:23 (AMP), “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.”

What you salute at the “Gates of Your Heart” you authorize to have access to your life. Never allow what is familiar to you to become the snare that could potentially kill you, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, financially or even physically. The enemy, (devil) will use what is familiar to you to set up his agents of deception in order to gain access to your heart.

Beware of any person, place or thing whether it be in the thought life or tangibly that is trying to gain access to your heart without the identifying Presence of The Holy Spirit’s Approval, which is Peace based on The Truth of God’s Word. The MP’s knew that I looked familiar to them but they would not let me drive through the gates and access the military base, which housed the heart of military activity until they were able to fully identify me and the car that I was driving and mark me as safe. Then and only then did they come to full attention and salute as I was authorized to pass through the gates.

I have three questions for you as we secure the “Gates of our Heart”.

1. What are you saluting and coming to full attention to at the Gate of Your Heart?
2. Will you choose, “The Gate of Life” and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
3. If you already know Him as Lord and Savior, will you, “Guard the Gates of Your Heart” in order to be all that God has called you to be? God’s gift of free will is yours, choose well.

Jesus Christ tells us Himself in John 10:10 (NKJV) “The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”

If you are accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior for the first time, then the following prayer has been written with you in mind. Please join me as we pray together:

“Jesus, I really want to know You, show me Who You Are as My Lord and Savior, come into my heart and teach me how to Guard the Gates of my life. I love You and I want to serve You forever, Amen”!

Congratulations! Your name has officially been written in “The Book of Life”!

Let’s “Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving” as we celebrate the Best Day of your life as a New Believer in Jesus Christ! Reference Psalm 100:4 (NKJV).