Reap What You Sow Mondays with Tony™: Don’t Let Offense Choke Your Harvest

🌱 Introduction: The Hidden Thief in the Garden

Most of us know what it means to sow in faith—giving, serving, loving, trusting, and praying with expectation. But what many don’t realize is that while you’re faithfully sowing, the enemy is just as faithful in trying to sabotage your soil.

He doesn’t always show up with destruction; sometimes, he brings offense.

It sneaks in through a side comment, a betrayal, a forgotten thank you. It festers from family arguments, church hurt, job disappointments, or even silence from God.

And if we’re not careful, offense becomes bitterness, bitterness becomes anger, and before we know it—we’ve allowed weeds to grow that choke out our harvest.

🌾 1. Offense Is a Seed Too—But It Doesn’t Produce Life

The parable of the sower reveals a powerful truth:

“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.” – Matthew 13:7 (NIV)

Jesus later explains the thorns as the worries of life and the deceitfulness of riches, but let’s not miss what’s also true: the soil can be good, but the thorns can still grow alongside it.

Those thorns—offense, hurt, jealousy, pride—don't start out obvious. They start subtle, silent, and internal. And if not addressed, they grow.

You can tithe and still be bitter. You can pray and still hold a grudge. You can serve while secretly resenting someone in the pew next to you.

🌱 KEY TRUTH:

Offense is a seed that produces weeds. And weeds compete with the harvest for space, sunlight, and nutrients.

💔 2. Bitterness Pollutes More Than Just You

Bitterness doesn’t stay bottled—it spreads.

“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.” – Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)

That’s why it’s dangerous to harbor grudges.It won’t just choke your harvest—it can choke your family’s, your ministry’s, and your community’s.

Bitterness changes your tone, your attitude, your generosity, your ability to celebrate others. And eventually, it warps your expectation of God.

“Why would He bless them after what they did to me?”“I can’t forgive them—look what they cost me.”“I’m still waiting on an apology before I move forward.”

🌾 Quote:“Bitterness poisons the well of your heart and still expects the water to taste sweet.”

🗣️ Declaration:I release bitterness. I will not allow it to contaminate my field. My heart is a pure place for harvest.

⚠️ 3. Unforgiveness Blocks What You’ve Prayed For

You can’t ask God to pour into your life while holding someone else hostage in your heart.

“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” – Mark 11:25 (NIV)

Forgiveness isn’t a feeling—it’s an act of obedience.It’s not weakness—it’s spiritual warfare.

Forgiveness clears the channel between you and God. When you release others, you’re also releasing yourself—from torment, from bondage, from spiritual stagnation.

🌾 Quote:“Forgiveness doesn’t excuse what they did—it uproots what it planted in you.”

🗣️ Declaration:I choose forgiveness today. I won’t let unforgiveness steal my peace or block my blessings.

🔥 4. Anger Can Burn the Whole Field

Anger has its place. Jesus flipped tables in the temple. God gets angry. But sustained, uncontrolled anger is destructive—not righteous.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” – Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)

When anger is unchecked, it starts justifying revenge, gossip, silent treatment, and withdrawal.

🔥 Some anger comes from disappointment with people.

🔥 Some anger comes from feeling overlooked by God.

🔥 Some comes from unhealed trauma or mismanaged expectations.

But in every case, anger left unresolved will scorch your spiritual soil.

🌾 Quote:“You can’t nurture a harvest in a scorched field.”

🗣️ Declaration:I refuse to let anger linger. I will process it, not partner with it. My heart remains open and fertile.

🙌🏾 5. You Can’t Harvest With a Hardened Heart

When your heart is hardened, even miracles bounce off it.

Pharaoh saw signs and wonders—but hardened his heart.The older brother in the prodigal son story was so offended, he missed the joy of reunion.Even Jesus couldn’t do many miracles in His hometown because of unbelief and offense.

The enemy wants your heart calloused—so you won’t even feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit when it’s time to reap.

Your harvest needs sensitivity, gratitude, and obedience. A hardened heart can’t respond to God with any of those.

🗣️ Declaration:I ask God to soften my heart. I will not let life make me numb to grace, mercy, or miracles.

🌾 Quote:“You can’t walk in breakthrough with a barricade around your heart.”

⛏️ 6. Uprooting Offense: How to Clear the Field

So how do we stop offense from choking our harvest?

Here’s the spiritual gardening toolkit:

A. Recognize the Root

What caused the wound? When did the anger take root? Name it.

B. Release the Person

You’re not saying it didn’t hurt. You’re saying you won’t hold them hostage in your heart any longer.

C. Replace the Thought

Every time the offense resurfaces, declare truth over your mind. Speak God’s Word out loud.

D. Rebuild the Boundary (Not the Wall)

Forgiveness doesn’t mean full access. You can love with wisdom.Set boundaries—not barriers.

E. Return to Sowing

Don’t let offense make you selfish or small. Keep planting kindness. Keep giving. Keep showing up.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21 (NIV)

🌾 Quote: “You can’t harvest joy while you’re still watering resentment.”

🗣️ Declaration: I break agreement with bitterness, offense, and resentment. My field is clear and ready for overflow.

🙏🏾 Prayer for a Clean Heart

Heavenly Father,Search my heart. Pull up any root of bitterness, offense, or hidden anger.Expose the places I’ve covered instead of surrendered. Help me forgive like You forgive. Help me love even when I’ve been hurt. I don’t want anything in my spirit to choke the harvest You’ve prepared for me.I lay down pride, pain, and resentment today.I trust You to heal me, cleanse me, and ready me for the overflow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

🧱 12 Harvest Declarations for a Free Heart

1. My heart is clear and ready for harvest.

   
   

2. I forgive those who have hurt me—again and again if needed.

   
   

3. I uproot bitterness before it grows deeper.

   
   

4. Offense will not block my next blessing.

   
   

5. I am free from the weight of resentment.

   
   

6. I walk in mercy because I have received mercy.

   
   

7. My field is full of grace, not grudges.

   
   

8. I speak life, not poison, over others and myself.

   
   

9. God is healing places in me that anger tried to control.

   
   

10. I will not curse my soil with unforgiveness.

    
    

11. Every part of me is open to God’s correction and comfort.

    
    

12. I am ready to reap what I’ve sown—in peace and in joy.

    
    

✍🏾 Closing Word

Offense may feel like protection, but it’s actually contamination. Don’t let what someone did to you become the reason your field won’t produce. God wants to bless you, but He won’t bless bitterness. Let Him heal you, clear you, and prepare you—because what’s coming is too precious to be choked by what should’ve been let go.

And if you're looking for a story that echoes these truths with power and inspiration, check out my novel series S.O.L.A.D.™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™. These action-packed, faith-driven stories speak directly to the heart of spiritual warfare and restoration. Autographed copies of Book I and Book II are available exclusively at www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop.