Is It Possible to Consciously Dissolve Resentment?

Anger progresses toward resentment similar to a spark becoming a roaring fire, especially when deliberately nurtured and stoked. An offensive and humiliating comment may result in embarrassment, hurt, or anger, but what is there about us that permits an offense to upgrade into resentment?

For one thing, it takes loving communication, determination, and courage to resolve hurt and angry feelings. The majority of individuals are given opportunities to settle an offense but lack the courage to make things right. Feelings of inadequacy or fear permit anger and hurt to evolve into resentment. 

One strategy for banishing resentment from your heart and mind is to confess your anger and resentment to God and others. This must be done without blaming or passing judgment. Ask God for courage to end your resentment. Jesus said “Do not judge and you will not be judged. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”  This will work.       

__________ 

Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit (pride). Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger dwells in the heart of fools.  

~Ecclesiastes 7: 8-9 Amplified Bible

__________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

What Causes Resentment to Lose its Power?

There are wonderful passions that have driven men and women to pursue goals that benefit the world for generations. Thomas Edison’s passion to harness electricity has had an immeasurable impact on every area of human existence. Think what an inconvenience it would be without a cell phone, television, or a computer.

Passion is defined as an intense emotion similar to love, joy, hatred, anger, and resentment. Frederick Nietzsche, the German philosopher, observed, “Nothing on earth consumes a man more quickly than the passion of resentment.” When we choose to be angry, resentment is born.

Resentment is a negative attitude or reaction leveled against someone who deliberately hurt or wounded you. Resentment is anger inflated to the level of bitterness. God never intended for us to permit resentment to become so intrusive. Imagine how God feels about it. Now give it to him continuously, deliberately, until it loses its power. Begin to do it now.  

___________ 

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.

~James 5:16 The Message

___________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

What About Unresolved Anger?

Unresolved anger will not magically disappear but will be transformed into resentment. Anger stored away in memories where solutions are out of bounds clearly identifies resentment. Nurturing negative memories keeps hatred alive. Resentment is analogous to taking a tiger by the tail, realizing the consequence will be disastrous, but still being unable to let it go.

Resentment erodes self-esteem by destroying trust in the ones who should be valued and loved. Resentment kills friendship by destroying the capacity to trust and be honest. How does resentment get such a strong grip on us? Hurt feelings transformed into anger give birth to resentment.

What feeds resentment is the belief that you are being cut off from your desires and happiness. How can you let it go?  

Each time resentment surfaces, ask God to help you let it go. By asking God to give you the will to be forgiving, resentment loses its grip on you. This step opens the door to God’s blessings of security and safety.  

____________ 

A wise man controls his temper. He knows that anger causes mistakes.  

~Proverbs 14:29  The Living Bible

____________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

Is There Hope for Displaced Anger?

Anger is often referred to as a harmful emotion for it can produce words that cut to the bone and behavior capable of destruction and death. I’m reminded of the adage that asserts, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Anyone who believes these words is either in denial or out of touch with reality.

Words spoken in anger can inflict pain and suffering, while destroying trust and the desire to be close and affectionate. Whether anger is spoken in harsh, cutting words or acted out physically, the most appropriate feeling should be guilt for using this emotion as a destructive weapon.

Misguided anger may be directed toward God if he’s perceived as holding the rod of punishment. God’s mercy allows for flawed beliefs as he waits for his people to mature and seek forgiveness, which he grants without hesitation. The best antidote for anger’s poison is God’s unfailing love and his wisdom.  

____________ 

Dear friends, let us practicing loving each other, for love come from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better.   

~1 John 4:7 The Living Bible

____________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

New Year Hopes: What Changes Are a Necessity for You?

We human beings need periodic change, whether or not we actually want it. We resist moving away from what is familiar because the threat of change creates anxiety or even fear. We will stay with what is familiar even when we are absolutely sure God would help us to change.

Overthinking what needs to be done is a means of putting off what should have been attended to much earlier. The beginning of a new year can be a new beginning for attending to your spiritual needs that have long since grown cold. 

Clear your mind and heart to make a place for God. Hear these words from Isaiah. “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear, for I am your God. I will make you strong as I protect you with my arm and give you victory.” Anticipate the very presence of God as you visualize what can be accomplished with his help and provision. Happy New Year!                 

___________ 

Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the advice of the Lord will stand.

~Proverbs 19:21 New American Standard Bible

We wait in hope for the  Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

~Psalm 33:20-22 New International Version

___________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

New Year Hopes: How Do You Anticipate Your Near and Distant Future?

What situations do you anticipate you will encounter this new year that will be welcomed? Anticipation also foresees the probability of events that might be unfavorable. This coming year assures us it will be one comprised of political and social issues that will either agree or disagree with our beliefs.

We regularly evaluate our lives to assess what needs to change or be modified. As we evaluate and appraise situations and people, we must then decide what impact they will have on us. So as you approach this new year, what help do you need from God?

As you anticipate your near and extended future, are there particular promises you need God to fulfill for you? 

Matthew 6:32 provides assurance of God’s care. “Your Father in heaven knows what you need, so set your heart first on God’s kingdom and his goodness and whatever you need will be provided.” Happy New Year!

____________ 

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”

~Psalm 32:8 New Living Translation

____________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.

New Year Hopes: Where Is Your Courage to Move Forward?

You are now experiencing 2024 and may or may not feel differently than you did yesterday about your future, but where have you placed your hopes? It’s worthy to assess if what we permit ourselves to depend on is actually in compliance with God’s plan for our future.

We as human beings need objectives that are achievable from a realistic  perspective where success is based upon past experience. However, there are new ideas and goals we might want to experiment with, even if a proven background is missing that would verify success.

It takes courage to move forward to test what is possible with the financial and physical boundaries that must be honored. Listen to God’s words of encouragement. “When you pass through deep water, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned, for I am the Lord your God who saves you.” Happy New Year!

___________ 

I will answer them before they even call to me, while they are still talking about their needs.

~Isaiah 65:24 New Living Translation

___________

Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.