Discern and Overcome Common TemptationsНамуна

Unseen Chains

Temptations: Unforgiveness & Gossip/Slander

Without you realizing it, unforgiveness and gossip are like invisible chains that weigh down your soul. The one often leads to the other! If there is unforgiveness in your heart, you will feel the need to tell someone. In the heat of the moment, unforgiveness may feel justified when someone has hurt or wronged you. However, when you give in to the temptation to harden your heart and speak about that person behind their back, there’s a good chance they’ll find out eventually. This will damage relationships and may even lead to others speaking behind your back as well.

The worldly view on this subject is to excuse yourself by saying, "I am not gossiping, I am just voicing my concern, I am just ‘saying’…"

Exercising discernment will help you to pause and examine the state of your heart before you speak or act. It will help you to contemplate the consequences of your response.

We do not forgive because someone deserves it, but because Jesus forgave us. How do I forgive? Someone once put it simply, and it made a lot of sense: “You say it and you pray it until you feel it!”

As we take that initial intentional act of obedience by speaking forgiveness out loud over someone who had wronged us, the Holy Spirit rushes in like a river of living water, and He cleanses us from every hurt that clings to our souls. He is the Spirit of Life, and when we turn our hearts to the Lord for help, He manifests as our Helper in time of need!

Reflect for a moment on the emotions stirring in your heart right now. Is it possible that one or more of them are related to a matter of unforgiveness? Or perhaps you are reminded of speaking behind someone's back yourself? Take a moment in prayer and bring these things before the Lord, repenting of everything that weighs down on your soul.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, thank you for showing me the true condition of my heart. Father, help me to forgive quickly and speak words that heal. Guard my lips from gossip and my heart from bitterness. Let my relationships reflect Your love. Amen.