This broadcaster has 1348 podcast archives available on-demand.
Keep up-to-date with this broadcaster on social media and their website.
January 8, 2021 7:00 pm
When Rebecca’s brother and sister-in-law started having marriage problems, Rebecca prayed earnestly for their reconciliation. But they divorced. Then her sister-in-law took the children out of state and their dad didn’t protest. Rebecca never again saw the nieces she dearly loved. Years later she said, “Because of trying to handle this sadness on my own, I let a root of bitterness start in my heart, and it began to spread to my family and friends.”
The book of Ruth tells about a woman named Naomi who struggled with a heart of grief that grew into bitterness. Her husband died in a foreign land, and ten years later both her sons died. She was left destitute with her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah (1:3–5). When Naomi and Ruth returned to Naomi’s home country, the whole town was excited to see them. But Naomi told her friends: “The Almighty has made my life very bitter. . . . The Lord has afflicted me” (vv. 20–21). She even asked them to call her “Mara,” meaning bitter.
Who hasn’t faced disappointment and been tempted toward bitterness? Maybe even on a daily basis! Someone says something hurtful, an expectation isn’t met, or demands from others make us resentful. When we acknowledge to ourselves and God what’s happening deep in our hearts, our tender Gardener can help us dig up any roots of bitterness—whether they’re still small or have been growing for years—and can replace them with a sweet, joyful spirit.
Hi again and thanks for joining us for another encouragement from the Our Daily Bread devotional. Today's reading titled dig it up was written by NCS when Rebecca's brother and sister-in-law started having marriage problems. Rebecca prayed earnestly for their reconciliation, but they divorced. Then her sister-in-law took the children out of state and their dad didn't protest. Rebecca never again saw the nieces she dearly loved.
Years later, she said, because of trying to handle the sadness on my own. I let a root of bitterness started my heart and it began to spread to my family and friends. The book of Ruth tells about a woman named Naomi who struggled with the heart of grief that grew into bitterness. Her husband died in a foreign land and 10 years later both her sons died. She was left destitute with her daughters-in-law Ruth and ORPA when Naomi and Ruth returned to Naomi's home country. The whole town was excited to see them but Naomi told her friends the Almighty has made my life very better. The Lord has afflicted me. She even asked them to call her Mara meaning better.
Who hasn't face disappointment and then tempted toward bitterness. Someone says something hurtful and expectation isn't met or demands from others make us resentful when we acknowledge to ourselves and God what's happening teeth in our hearts are tender. Gardner can help us dig up any roots of bitterness whether there still small or have been going for years and can replace them with this sweet, joyful spirit, today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from Ruth chapter 1 verses three through five and 20 through 21 now Abimelech Naomi's husband died and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named ORPA and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about 10 years both mainline and Killian also died and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband and now versus 20 through 21.
Don't call me Naomi.
She told them call me Mara because the Almighty is made my life very better.
I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi. The Lord has afflicted me.
The Almighty has brought misfortune upon me its prey. God there's just so much darkness and pain all around us, and it's easy to get dragged down by it.
We ask you to help us see the goodness that you have on display in this world and lift us out of our despair and if there is any bitterness in our hearts reveal it to us and lead us out of it so we can shine your light to the world. Thank you Lord it's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries