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In the book Kneeling We Triumph Volume One, compiled by Edwin and Lillian Harvey, there is a reading entitled “Bitterness hinders prayer.” I think most of us are aware of this fact as it is reiterated in Scripture as A. B. Simpson points out:
“Job had to pray for his very enemies before God could turn his captivity, and had to banish from his heart every particle of bitter feeling towards the men who had tormented him through months of sickness, with their ignorance, misconstruction, and offensive interference. And when he did, God turned his captivity and restored him to more than his former blessings (Job. 42:10).


“One reason why the disciples could not claim the casting out of the demon from the suffering child was that they had disputed by the way which should be the greatest. The spirit of cherished animosity, lurking prejudice, sullen vindictiveness, or cold disdain, will as effectually obstruct our intercourse and intimacy with Heaven as a speck upon the crystalline lens of the eye will obstruct our vision, or the crossing of wires of the electric machinery will leave us in darkness.
“There are a great many crossed wires in the Church of Christ and the consequence is dark hearts and mournful cries: “Hath God forgotten to be gracious?” (Psalm 77:9). “How long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?” (Psalm 80:4). Just this long, brother—“If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Matt. 5:23, 24).”

I heard a knock I knew. I said,
“Lord Jesus, do come in. Come in.”
He said, “The door is locked.”
It was. . . . I turned the key.
I heard Him touch the handle
and a crack of light appeared.
“Come in, Lord Jesus. Please come in.”
“Something is against the door,” He said,
“It will not move!”
I looked. I saw a dark, crude bundle
I had not known was there—an ugly bundle,
hateful to the touch.
I glanced inside and saw the rancid unforgiveness
of a wrong.
I pushed it back, flung wide the door, and light
poured in as
Jesus stepped inside my house and greeted me.
—Jane Emerson.

The above quotations are taken from Kneeling We Triumph, Volume One, which is published by Harvey Christian Publishers and is available on their Online Christian Bookstore.

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