Malice is when we wish something bad on someone else. Where we hope something bad will happen to them. It is when we harbor feelings where we want others to suffer, and it is often in response to how they may have hurt us. We want them to pay for what they have done.
What you hold onto is what has a hold on you. “But Jesus, knowing (seeing) their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil and harbor malice in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4 AMPC).
When we hold malice in our hearts, we hold darkness in our souls. When we seek revenge, we are heading in the wrong direction. When we hold onto malice, we let go of love and forgiveness. When malice is leading us, it will always take us away from God.
Stop hurting the Holy Spirit by the way you live your life. “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God… All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:30-31 NASB).
We need to learn how to process our feelings. When somebody treats us wrong, our flesh wants to respond, and it is never from the heart of God. It is this flesh response we must learn to control. We must learn not to react at the moment but reflect on things after we spend time with God.
If you want to change the world, then start with yourself. “Drag me not away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace with their neighbors, but malice and mischief are in their hearts” (Psalm 28:3 AMPC).
When people wrong us, we will feel hurt. Feeling hurt is not wrong but only in how we respond to it. When we respond with malice, we desire evil against the one who harmed us. When we do this, we are in sin. Just because someone sins against you does not mean it is ok to sin back at them.
There are some things in your life that you need to sacrifice on the altar that they would no longer remain alive in you. “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth” (Colossians 3:8 NKJV).
Sometimes we think our malice towards others is justified. We think that the malice is actually for our benefit, to protect us and avenge all that we have endured. Certainly, we must defend ourselves and not allow others to harm us. But we should never become evil to defend against evil.
When someone wrongs you, see to it you don’t do the same thing. “If wrongdoing is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let malice dwell in your tents” (Job 11:14 NASB).
Whenever you have even the slightest ill will towards someone you are violating the very essence of God’s Word. The sum of the Word is to love our neighbor and there is no love found when we have malice formed in our hearts. We must see the sin that we might then confess it.
There are no exceptions to the command, “thou shalt love thy neighbor.” Jesus taught, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44 NKJV).
In order to not have malice towards others going forward, we must realize the malice we still have in our hearts today. Often malice is masked in such subtle ways that most of us harbor it without realizing it. We often think of our malice as justice and think ourselves righteous in our judgment.
Spend more time considering how you treat others instead of how others treat you. “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:1-3 NKJV).
One of the hardest things to do on this planet is to wish well to those who have wronged us. We can barely imagine being able to pray a blessing to someone who is against us. Yet this is the higher faith and the greater thing that we should all aspire to walk in.
Sometimes we’re not meant to overcome our enemy but to win them over. Jesus taught, “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you” (Luke 6:27-28 NLT).
When someone hurts you, pray for their well-being. Show mercy to others as Christ showed mercy to you. When we pray blessings, we will be blessed. When we pray curses, we will be cursed. What we do is who we are. What we give is what we’ll receive.
One of the greatest signs of a mature faith is in the mercy shown to others. “You will be judged on whether or not you are doing what Christ wants you to. So watch what you do and what you think; for there will be no mercy to those who have shown no mercy. But if you have been merciful, then God’s mercy toward you will win out over his judgment against you” (James 2:12-13 TLB).
Learn to rebuke all thoughts of malice that they wouldn’t form with you. Take your troubles to the Lord and leave them there. Develop an attitude of mercy and a life filled with grace, and you will be a blessing to those around you.
The Christian life is a progression of letting go of one thing and taking hold of another. “Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 TPT).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius