Scripture

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (Ephesians 4:31, ESV)

Thoughts

Like having mold and mildew eradicated from your house, so let bitterness be removed from your heart. Like you would take an old, stinky fish from your fridge, so remove wrath from your heart. In the same way you brush away the “morning breath” from your mouth, so cleanse the clamor and slander inside you.

The Greek word airo, translated “let ----- be put away from you,” implies violence and great authority. So Paul is saying here, “with forcefulness, remove bitterness from your heart; with violence, remove the wrath stored up; with authority, take action against your sin, to banish clamor, malice, and slander.”

Application

Does bitterness have control of your friendships, or do you have authority over your bitterness? Does anger hold sway over your conversations, or are you diligent about getting rid of anger? Too often people say, “I can’t help it if I feel bitter [angry/malicious].” That’s not true; with God’s help, you can get hold of those attitudes and take authority over them. Evict bitterness from your heart even if it goes out kicking and screaming.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, with your Spirit’s power, I am rejecting bitterness and anger and forcefully removing them from my heart. I am banishing the anger I have been harboring. I do not want malice to live in me anymore.…

(Continue praying.)