11/01/2026
SUNDAY DEVOTIONAL: A CALL TO DEEP HEART INTROSPECTION
Beloved in Christ,
We cannot be comfortable as Christians while our hearts remain polluted. A believer who has truly encountered Christ must never make peace with an unclean heart. Daily, our hearts are exposed to contamination—jealousy toward our brethren, envy of others’ progress, secret wishes for the downfall of others, and the dangerous habit of speaking ill over people’s lives.
Among the most destructive evils tolerated in the Church today is the sin of wishing sickness upon others—speaking into someone’s life words that attach disease, infirmity, chronic illness, or even pronouncing terminal conditions as though we are judges. Some do this openly; others do it subtly through gossip, insinuations, and careless conversations masked as “concern” or “prayer requests.” Yet words spoken in malice carry spiritual weight.
The Word of God admonishes us clearly:
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
— Philippians 2:12 (KJV)
Yes, we are saved through Christ Jesus by grace. However, Scripture makes it clear that salvation must be worked out daily. This means bringing ourselves before God continually, allowing the Holy Spirit to expose and uproot every hidden spirit of envy, jealousy, bitterness, hatred, and death operating within us.
When a believer speaks sickness over another—whether calling their condition permanent, predicting deterioration, or casually declaring terminal disease—they are aligning their tongue with death, not life. Such words do not come from Christ. They come from a heart that has not been fully surrendered and cleansed.
Gossip is equally deadly. It is a weapon that kills slowly—destroying lives by shaping false perceptions, damaging reputations, and releasing spiritual harm.
Scripture warns us that death and life are in the power of the tongue, and every word we speak either builds or destroys.
A willing heart chooses repentance daily. It works on itself. It releases grudges. It cleans itself through prayer and humility until it can genuinely love its neighbour as itself. True love does not rejoice in another’s pain. It does not predict sickness. It does not speak failure, limitation, bad luck, or death over another person’s destiny.
As Christians, we are called to:
Wish others prosperity and good health
Pray healing, not pronounce disease
Speak life, not terminal outcomes
Guard our tongues from envy, jealousy, and malice
Refuse to harm others through words, gossip, or silent ill wishes
This is the daily working out of our salvation—living in reverent fear of God, knowing that a pure heart and a disciplined tongue reflect Christ to the world.
Prayer:
Lord, search our hearts. Cleanse us from jealousy, envy, bitterness, and every desire to speak harm over others. Set a guard over our mouths, that we may speak life, healing, and blessing. Create in us clean hearts and renew a right spirit within us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Apostle Agness Chongo Phiri
Human Rights Commissioner Emeritus
Founder & President – Heart of Mercy
President – Pan African Women Entrepreneurs Network (PAWEN)
Founding Chairperson – Purely Zambian Import & Export Ltd.
