At some point in our life, we all carry emotional baggage – memories of past hurts, disappointments, betrayals or regrets. These burdens can take root in our hearts, creating bitterness, resentment and a hardened spirit. This is extremely dangerous, as a heart filled with these emotions leaves no room for the presence of the Holy Spirit.
As we’ve been emphasising throughout these daily articles, the main goal of the Fast of Daniel is to create space for God to dwell within us. And to achieve this, we must be willing to let go of toxic emotions that pollute our hearts and prevent us from receiving His presence.
The Bible is clear: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14). Holding onto grudges doesn’t only harm the person you’re upset with; it also harms you. It ties you to the past, blocks your prayers by contaminating your faith, and worst of all, makes your heart unable to be moulded by the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is gentle, pure, and, as His name indicates, holy. Therefore, He cannot enter hearts filled with rage, jealousy or pride. If we truly desire to be filled with His presence, we must actively cleanse our interior – not just by avoiding worldly content, as we are doing during these 21 days, but also by confronting the negative emotions we’ve buried or excused.
So, if you hold a grudge against someone who has hurt or disappointed you, feel bitterness over past events you don’t understand, experience guilt about mistakes you’ve made, envy someone else’s life or blessings, or struggle with pride that prevents you from apologising or forgiving, here are some steps that may help you:
1 – Acknowledge the issue. Be honest with yourself and with God about what’s in your heart, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden emotions or unresolved pain. Sometimes, we carry these burdens for so long that we begin to see them as part of who we are – but they are not.
2 – Choose to forgive. Don’t wait to feel like forgiving because this may never happen. It may sound strange, but forgiveness is a conscious decision. Go to God in prayer and declare, “God, I forgive (name of the person). I let go of this toxic feeling.”
3 – Pray for the person. Ask God to bless them. This will lighten your heart and demonstrate your commitment to letting go of negativity.
It’s not easy, but it’s possible. When you surrender those feelings, you open the door for the Holy Spirit to enter your life, bringing His peace, joy and guidance.
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