What are the solutions to restoring one’s heart from resentfulness and a critical soul? Both in my mind are the result of a certain level of entitlement that has taken hold within the soul of the individual. While complaining about old shoes might be a normal kind of reaction, until you meet someone without any feet. Complaining about your home seems trivial when you come across someone having to sleep in their car. It really is just a matter of perspective, and most complaining and whining, resentment, and being critical comes from a very narrow myopic selfish focus. As humans we gravitate towards comfort, and when having it we then get to expect it, and then we want it in even greater amounts. It is the way of our natural flesh nature. Yet we are often blind to our own entitlements. When we get set into those ‘entitlements’ and when we don’t receive more or see greater ‘blessings’ we become resentful or critical often of those around us who we think should be supplying us with our expectations. This is easily seen within the marital and family relationships.
What are the counter agents to this ‘entitlement’, resentful, critical iniquity situation?
First is the need for the fruit of the Holy Spirit to be taking hold in our lives.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Is the Holy Spirit asking you about these in the various trials of your daily life?
Then there is a need for true humility.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 (underline emphasis mine)
Is the Holy Spirit exposing your pride ever?
Then there is a need for gratefulness.
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22 (underline emphasis mine)
Do you realize everything you have is because of the goodness and mercy of God, down to the breath in your lungs and the beat of your heart?
Then there is a need for a life lived in the presence of confession, repentance, AND forgiveness.
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him. Luke 17:2-4
Are you holding resentment and grudges against people? Has the Holy Spirit exposed any in you? Are you wishing ill on others because of your resentment? Are you withholding love and blessing on others because of a grudge?
These kinds of iniquities only grow the evil within us. Bitterness, depression, and sickness are not far behind. Holding on to any resentment only grows darkness of soul. These iniquities destroy relationship.
Now here is the crux of the matter…
Jesus said…
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
Without Jesus we can DO nothing when it comes to bearing any kind of spiritual fruit in our lives. We can not produce any fruit worthy of God without Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
So the question arises… how much are you allowing the Holy Spirit in your life? Are you listening to Him? Are you being guided by Him? How much? Is He actually leading your life or are you still in the driver’s seat? Can you hear His Voice?