How Roots of Bitterness Keep Us In a Victim Mentality

Why cultures get stuck in victim stories, and how Kingdom leaders break cultural strongholds

(Intro Video) Have you noticed that some people keep finding new proof that they’re being wronged? Bitterness doesn’t just remember the wound. It goes looking for the next one. Here’s why, and how to break the cycle.

Every culture tells a story about itself, and many quietly tell the same one: we are sheep, and someone is leading us to the slaughter. Businesses tell it too, through layoffs, betrayals and bosses who never listened. The story feels like realism and it’s shared by many. It’s actually a cultural stronghold, and it grows from a root of bitterness.

 

The Lie Jesus Answers

Psalm 44:22 “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered” embodies the spirit of fear and victimization. Paul quotes it in Rom 8:36 and answers it in the very next verse.

Rom 8:37 – No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

The sheep story teaches that suffering and rejection are proof of righteousness, that hardship exists to break my will, and that sickness and powerlessness are simply God’s will. This manufactured sense of powerlessness is resignation the devil loves. Jesus, Immanuel and Redeemer of our story, never asks His sons to adopt that identity. He gives them the authority and power to be overcomers.

Lk 10:19 – I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions
and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

How Bitter Roots Justify the Stronghold

What connects strongholds and roots of bitterness? A stronghold is unwillingness and inability (I won’t or I can’t). The root of bitterness is the reason it’s okay to be unwilling. It produces a tainted identity: “I am ________ because ________.” And the heart of it is justification: I have a right to my attitude, my offense, my hatred, my fear, and my opinion.

Paul’s words in 2 Cor 10:5 fit exactly. Bitter roots are arguments, the reasoning that says my wound logically entitles me to be offended. They are also pretensions, a high place where I end up worshipping my tainted, wounded identity. I put my bitterness ahead of daily Living Words. I put my opinions ahead of Father’s purpose. In fact, I don’t want to hear the contradiction.

Heb 12:15 – See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God
and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Justification feels like honesty. In practice it is a hindrance to hearing God, and an open door in the Spirit that invites the enemy’s next theft or attack (Bitter Root Expectations are Faith for evil).

Job 3:25 – What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.

 

Why Victimization Closes Our Ears

Bitterness is unbelief, and unbelief leaves us deaf to Living Words (Acts 8:23). Victims hear what they expect. Bitter roots need repeat offenses, so they look for new evidence of wounding to re-prove their bitter story true. It is faith for the next injury. They can’t afford to be vulnerable, so they keep wearing religious fig leaves to make it all sound spiritual.

There is a cousin to bitterness in self-delusion, one for new agers and one for believers:

Those who believe God is a universal force typically hear their own heart’s desires and dreams coming true; the nearly comic dysfunction of new age deception (see Happy Lies).

Believers who hear only from a Loving Father God often hear Santa giving them what they want, and they have a long list of Bible verses to help convince Him and themselves. Prayer is 5 min/day to reiterate our wants and needs. Faith is the mistaken belief that if I nag God more and believe more, He will give me what I want.

 

Both stay inside their own introverted hearts.

In contrast, Jesus redeemed sonship and access to Heaven (Jn 1:51): nine conversations in the Council to reveal the whole of Father’s heart: Identity, Story, Purpose, Strategy, Tactics, Heritage, Courage, Clarity and Culture. The irony is that “what Father is doing that I can do with Him” is the path to Father’s favor (Jn 5:19-20). Co-laboring with Father releases Him to add all these things (Mt 6:33), immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine (Eph 3:20). Sons are very bright because of daily Living Words about what their Father is doing.

 

Taking Roots of Bitterness to the Courts of Heaven

Name the accusation, such as “God has abandoned us” or “I’m the only one.” Agree honestly and take it to the cross: Lord, I do feel alone, unheard and unseen, and I’m giving it to You. Trace the root, which is often an orphan mentality or plain unbelief, and take that to the cross too. Then release Living Words and decree what Father is saying.

The lie in Romans 8:36 is answered in 8:37, and it is answered daily. Father will never leave you or forsake you, and He always has a way, and He is glad to share it with Sons in Conversation, Jn 5:20.

Rom 8:36 – As it is written:
For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
37)   No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us.

1Tim 1:7 – For God has not given us the spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

1Jn 4:18 – There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,
because fear has to do with punishment.

Mt 25:24 – I knew that you are a hard man (fear… from a bitter root judgment against God)

 

 

What Kingdom Leaders Do

Kingdom leaders do this with their own roots first, then lead others out. Two marks set them apart.

#1).  Leaders Follow the Lamb and prophetically see the future (Reformation)

#2).  They see what Father in doing in People, Businesses, and Nations

• • They have faith, expectations to manifest their sonship, heroism
  • They prophetically go before it, speak to it, pray for it, decree it. Thay have an anointing to proclaim the year of the Lord’s Favor, every year (Lu 4:18-19)
  • They have Faith/Vision for being Heirs Together with Staff (None left behind)

 

From Survival to Reformation

The sheep story says survive the attack. The son’s story says we are Father’s army on the attack who carry a mandate for His Reformation; We are More than Conquerors.

Spiritual warfare is a reality for all of us on personal, business, and national levels. The good news is that Sons and Daughters have weapons not of this world in Heaven’s Courts and Council to contend for victories in every area. Nothing can stop what Father has in mind in blessing people and nations. The enemy can’t even stop His Sons.

Lu 10:17 – The seventy-two returned with joy and said,
“Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18)     He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19)     I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions
              and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

• This blog was inspired by a Council session: 2026-10-28 Council – Sheep Led to Slaughter.
• See also – Sonship and Spiritual Warfare

 

Example – A cultural stronghold strategy for the Courts of Heaven

Court and Council Tool Kit

Enemy Accusation – Polish people fear and hate Russia – a root of Bitterness, a stronghold that imprisons
It’s justified by real historic, personal abuses that have been cruel, unfair, and unjust
The fruit is fear, unforgiveness, and unbelief… an open door in the Spirit that invites war
Bitter Root expectations… Faith for evil… a Spirit of Fear… deaf to good news.
Job 3:25 – What I feared has come upon me

Cross – Lord, I agree with this accusation and I’m bringing this cultural stronghold to the cross.
Releasing grace for forgiveness to close this open door in the Spirit

Roots – A Nagging Spirit of Fear – That you (God) are a hard man (Mt 25:24)

• • That for your sake we are as sheep led to the slaughter (Rom 8:36-37)
  • That God is uncaring, has let us down, we don’t trust Him

Cross – Lord I agree with this root and take it to the Cross

• • Release polish people from the bondage of fear into power, love, and a sound mind
  • Release grace to forgive their accusation against you, Wash them
  • Invite your Polish sons and daughters into your Courts and Council
  • Arm them your weapons not of this world that have power to demolish strongholds

Prophetic Decrees from Father

#1).  The Spirit of Poland is to set the captives free (John Sobieski, “We Came, We Saw, God Won”)

• • I have anointed them to proclaim the year of the Lord’s Favor to Slavic people
  • Poles are overcomers, they are more than conquerors (Liberators of the oppressed)
  • They do not fear the devil’s threats and schemes; They have weapons now (2Cor 10:3-5)

Lu 10:17-19 – they return with joy; have authority over all the power of the enemy

#2).  I am giving Poland an opportunity to liberate Russia & Slavic people into God’s Kingdom

• • I am anointing her with Love for their Slavic brothers and sisters
    in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, wherever they are (13 other nations)
  • I am inviting them to release my Spirit over Slavic people
  • To Liberate them from communism, Islaam, Judaism, and the EU into freedom in Christ
  • Their flag is inscribed, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom”

 

John’s Story – I have been to Poland ~15 times, Ukraine twice, and Russia once mostly doing business/Sonship conferences in churches. I confess a love for Polish people. I met Dima in Ukraine around 2010. He and Julia were pastoring and have since moved to Estonia. He has several thousand Slavic people on WhatsApp in Russian. He translated some of our material for his Slavic audience:

• • Dima Gladkov – https://sogministry.com
  • Translated Website – https://consultingjohngarfield.eu/
  • Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ReleasingKingsRu
  • Blog Articles – https://consultingjohngarfield.eu/stati/

Although all this work is all from Dima, we both see what God is doing His work in Russia and in Slavic people elsewhere. We are just doing what Father is doing, free from any cultural strongholds. It’s fun! All this to say that Sons and Daughters can do what Father is doing in the Nations, Co-labor with Him.

 

Take the Next Step:

Progression to Sonship – Your Kingdom purpose and redemptive stories form the basis for your personal identity, purpose, value creation, and your business offer. Becoming your authentic self is the Father’s non-religious key to flow and fruit in business and life. We offer practical and prophetic coaching to help you get there, flowing with your Father (co-laboring) instead of fighting circumstances and resistance alone.
Is this You?

Read the book and Zoom with John for an overview of our process in Kingdom Business Coaching.

 

Click the graphic below for access to the PDF with live links (how-to details, templates,  and examples)