Fasting for Breakthrough and Deliverance

. . . watching diligently so that no one falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness spring up to cause trouble, and many become defiled by it.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outbursts, and blasphemies, with all malice, be taken away from you. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

BITTERNESS IS OFTEN the result of rejection and hurt. People become angry and bitter when they fail to forgive and release people who have wounded and offended them. Everyone has experienced some sort of pain in life, and many do not resolve it and, therefore, end up becoming bitter.

The root of bitterness has related spirits, including unforgiveness, rage, anger, violence, revenge, retaliation, and even murder. The Hebrew word for “bitterness,” marah, connects bitterness and rebellion. Marah means to be (cause, make) bitter (or unpleasant); to rebel (or resist, cause to provoke); bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoke (ing), (be) rebel (against, -lious).¹ Bitterness is repressed anger and is connected to stubbornness (refusal to forgive). The rejected person often has a hard time forgiving. Rejection hurts and creates offense, which requires forgiveness. Unforgiveness can breed bitterness. It is a vicious cycle.

Bitterness is a deep-rooted spirit. It goes deep into a person’s emotions and is hard to dislodge because the person “feels” angry and other deep emotions that are so real to them. This demon gets rooted down into the flesh. Reacting in anger or revisiting the bitterness satisfies the flesh. But it is a pseudo satisfaction. It only causes harm to the flesh in the form of opening doors to spirits of infirmity, including arthritis and cancer. It is symbolized by gall and wormwood. This is why the root of bitterness needs to be broken through fasting, which starves the flesh. Bitterness is very common, and multitudes need deliverance from it.

Anger is a related spirit that stems from bitterness. It can be a stubborn demon. Some people just can’t seem to overcome anger. They erupt, but feel so guilty.

Unforgiveness opens the door for tormenting spirits (Matt. 18). Unforgiveness is the result of being hurt, rejected, abandoned, disappointed, abused, raped, molested, taken advantage of, lied on, cheated, talked about, etc.

All of these spirits come as a result of rejection, which can prevent one from giving or receiving love from God or from other people. There is also a spirit called “rejection from the womb” that enters the womb because the child was unwanted. Self-rejection and fear of rejection are other related spirits. Rejection is also a doorkeeper. This spirit opens the door for other spirits to enter, including fear, hurt, unforgiveness, and bitterness. It links with rebellion, causing double-mindedness (see my book Unshakeable for more on this topic).

Almost everyone has experienced rejection at one time or another in life. People can be rejected because of their gender, skin color, economic status, size, shape, etc. Rejection is a major stronghold in the lives of many. But you can begin to attack all of the spirits connected with rejection, anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness through prayer and obedience. If things seem to not be shaking loose, add fasting to your prayer and watch God deliver you.

I will cease from anger and put away wrath to stay connected to God. If I wait on Him, I will inherit the earth (Ps. 37:8–9).

My whole body is sick, and my health is broken because of my sins. But I confess my sins and am deeply sorry for what I have done. Do not abandon me, O Lord. Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior (Ps. 38:3, 18, 22, NLT).

I will speak soft words, kind words, and words of life to turn wrath and anger away from me. I will not grieve anyone with my words (Prov. 15:1).

I will appease the strife against my health and my family by being slow to anger (Prov. 15:18).

I am better than the mighty because I control my anger. There is more gain in ruling my spirit than conquering a city (Prov. 16:32).

I use discretion to defer my anger; I earn esteem by overlooking wrongs (Prov. 19:11).

I will not sin against my own soul by provoking the King to anger (Prov. 20:2).

I will silence anger with a secret gift (Prov. 21:14).

I declare that anger’s reign in my life will come to an end (Prov. 22:8).

I cast out the cruelty and destruction of wrath and anger. They will not flood my emotions any longer (Prov. 27:4).

I will be slow to anger and will keep its clutches from resting in my bosom (Eccles. 7:9).

Let all wrath and anger be put away from me (Eph. 4:31).

I am a new person, having been renewed after the image of Him who created me; therefore, I put off anger (Col. 3:8–10).

I will not discourage my children by provoking them to anger (Col. 3:21).

Lord, I give the bitterness of my soul to You. Please look upon my affliction and remember me. I will go in peace because You have granted my petition (1 Sam. 1:10–11, 17).

I will speak openly to You, O Lord, and release all of my bitterness to You (Job 7:11).

I will speak to You, God, in the bitterness of my soul. I will find the root of why my spirit contends with Yours (Job 10:1–2).

I declare that I will not die in the bitterness of my soul, and I will eat with pleasure (Job 21:25).

My heart knows its own bitterness (Prov. 14:10); I release it to You.

I will raise wise children who will cause me no grief or bitterness (Prov. 17:25).

I had great bitterness, but in love You delivered me from the pit of corruption. For You have put all my sins behind Your back (Isa. 38:17).

I was in bitterness and in the heat of my spirit, but the hand of the Lord is strong upon me (Ezek. 3:14).

I repent of my wickedness and pray to God that the thoughts of my heart be forgiven, for I am bound by bitterness and iniquity (Acts 8:21–23).

My mouth is full of cursing and bitterness, but You have shown me a better way and I have been made right in Your sight (Rom. 3:14, 21–22).

I diligently look within myself so that I will not be defiled by any root of bitterness that may spring up (Heb. 12:15).

I will go to my brother and ask that he forgive me of my trespasses against him (Gen. 50:17).

I pray that my brother will forgive me so that when I go before God, He will take this death away from me (Exod. 10:17).

Like Moses, I come to You asking Your forgiveness on behalf of Your people and myself. Thank You, God, that You forgive all those who sin against You, for You have blotted them out of Your book (Exod. 32:32–33).

God, I thank You that when You hear our prayers You also forgive us (1 Kings 8:30).

You have heard from heaven, forgiven my sin, and have delivered me into the land You promised my fathers (1 Kings 8:34).

You have heard from heaven, forgiven my sin, and have taught me the good way in which I should walk (1 Kings 8:36).

You have heard from heaven, forgiven my sin, and will do and give me according to my ways because You know my heart (1 Kings 8:39).

Forgive me of my sins, and have compassion upon me (1 Kings 8:50).

I am called by Your name and have humbled myself before You.

I pray and seek Your face and have turned from my wicked ways. Now You will hear from heaven and forgive my sin and heal me (2 Chron. 7:14).

Look upon my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins (Ps. 25:18).

You, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive. Your mercy is plentiful to all those who call on You (Ps. 86:5).

The Lord declares that He will forgive my iniquity and remember my sin no more (Jer. 31:34).

O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and do! For I am called by Your name (Dan. 9:19).

As I forgive others, Lord, I pray that You will forgive me (Matt. 6:12).

I will forgive those who have wronged me, because if I don’t, God will not forgive me (Matt. 6:14–15).

You have healed me and said, “Arise and take up your bed,” so that I will know that You have the power to forgive sins on Earth (Matt. 9:6).

Like the servant who owed the king ten thousand talents, I too have been forgiven much. Therefore I will go and forgive all those who have sinned against me so that I will not be given over to the tormentors (Matt. 18:23–35).

I will forgive any person with whom I ought, so that when I stand praying, my Father in heaven will forgive me also (Mark 11:25).