t is often that we see someone who looks very stern or just a bit angry, ALL OF THE TIME.  We may conclude that this person is really mean, and we should stay out of their way.  Often this is not the true summation of that person, and we would find that if we went over and said hello a big smiley face would appear.  How different they look when they are not internalizing the things that proceed from their life.  Often that person, who could be us, are bearing pain of life situations gone past.  There is a heavy weight upon them, and it shows on their face.  They often do not realize it. People often say, "SMILE", or what's wrong?  Then the person is surprised to know that there is a frown on their face…all of the time.
Before the Lord took me through deep places of my heart I was this way.  Once a friend said to other people, "she's frowning, but don't pay attention to that because she really is nice".  For myself in review, I had not to long ago come through several traumatic situations, and was still in shock.  These were added to yesterday's offenses that I had suppressed.  It was at that time that the LORD began to teach me to deal with life without rose colored glasses, and but seeing life as it had been…hurtful, and unfair.  There are many things in life that are unfair, as well as many offenders, and then there's God.  All of these things we must learn to deal with in life in order not to mask the true life of joy and peace that the Lord has planned for us.  It is needed that we learn to deal with our own bitterness so that we don't dispel the wonderment that is in the Spirit of God that we received when we believed. Why focus of the negative when there is much more positive life ahead and around us.

Forgiving is the answer.  We do not necessarily forgive because a person deserves to be forgiven, but because when the Lord comes to sup with us, he will not accept a heart full of negativity with his meal of love. In turn the fact is we also mess up and have evil intentions at times.   Therefore we will not necessarily receive the dose of joy and peace that we anticipated from the LORD.  We must walk with Him along this path of life at His pace in order to maintain his joy and peace.  Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.  We must keep a mind on the lord and not on the offenses that have happened to us.
Here's how to do it. These are a few steps to freedom from internal anger, depression and bitterness that we feel.

1. identifying the offense
2.  and the offender
3. disagree with the offender
4. forgive the offender
5. forgive yourself, yes yourself
6. Forgive the LORD.  Yes the Lord.

          What is truly bothering us is what we first must identify.  Sometimes it is very evident, and other times it is not.  We must think about the course of our life.  When we have identified the offense, we should not white-wash it, or overstate it.  We accept it plainly as something that truly hurt us, and who is at fault..  In some cases we will find that along with the offender in such a case, we must also forgive ourselves for allowing ourselves to be put in the position to be hurt.  This does really help.  If we are also angry at the Lord for life circumstances beyond our control, we must as the lord told me once, "if you will serve me, forgive me."  Let's just admit it, God's plan for our lives, and the rough spots and trials that we go through do not always meet with out approval, or our understanding.  It is then that we mush make a declaration that we will not continue to hold anger against the Lord for the way He is living His life through His servant-slave as well as His friend.  When we accept that we are angry at God and His plan, we are just being honest with He who already knows it.  We must say to Him, indeed, I was angry with you Lord, and I am sorry for my attitude against your sovereignty and holiness.  I will not continue to hold anger against you for you plan for my life, and this by the power that is in your name Jesus Christ.  We will find that if we will do this, we will not longer feel the negative feelings of anger and sadness that are brought on by life circumstances beyond our control.


We must also do the same for offenses with humankind.  "Tell it like it is" and then say "but I forgive" . In some cases, we must believe all that people, parents, siblings, and friends say about us.  We must not base our lives on living up to the plans of another per-se, we must live up to the plans of Almighty God.  When we disagree with the offender in reality, we do not succumb to "always being a failure" and other death sentences that are placed upon us.  We must recognize the offense, the offender, and if need be, disagree with the offender to heal and free ourselves through forgiving. The hardest of things that we have been through will vanish when we forgive.
  Though often we do not want to admit that we have something to do with bad things that happen, we must; to get over them.  When we do, we forgive our self in the same way, we feel the torment of the offense disappear. Once our heart is cleansed of these offenses that make us look down, we will bear fruit before the Lord.