By Victoria Smith
“For there is not a word in my tongue [still unuttered], but, behold, O Lord, You know it altogether,” (Psalm 139:5, The Amplified Bible).
It is essential to guard our words and thoughts to live effectively and fully for Christ!
You and I sometimes fail to comprehend that God’s presence is with us at all times. Imagine for a moment that the Lord Jesus was visible to you. If during the course of life, you had Him visibly walking by your side, sitting at your dinner table and riding in your car, how careful you would be about your words! Reflect on this past week and ask yourself if you said anything that would grieve His heart. Maybe it was a harsh word spoken, words contrary to His Word or words that were not as tender, nor as full of faith as they ought to be. If you and I will constantly focus on being filled with His Spirit and glory, we would be less likely to fall into such temptation. Often you and I fail to realize He is listening to our every word and thought. The Lord Jesus desires us to be meek and to walk humbly towards others, just as He did on earth. You and I must imagine standing in the constant presence of Jesus as we go about our daily lives.
“There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18, The Amplified Bible).
You and I are capable of speaking words that are like the piercing of a sword. God’s Word tells us that if we offend those little ones that believe in Him, it would be better for us to have a millstone tied around our neck and to be drowned in the sea. The opposite side of this truth is that the tongue of the wise can be used by God to bring life and health. When we are filled with His Word, wisdom and revelation knowledge in our hearts, we abound with His character, thoughts and purposes. Bringing life-giving words to others are a direct result of Christ being formed in us; certainly, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. If we are filled with His divine love, those that are lost in the sins of the world will be drawn to Christ’s love in you. On the other hand, if our words are piercing as a sword, others will not see Christ in us and may consequently never surrender their hearts to the Lord.
“He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin,” (Proverbs 13:3, The Amplified Bible).
If you or I become sick, we should watch our words. We should be speaking God’s Word and acting in faith, rather than putting our confidence in the symptoms or in bad reports. We should ask God’s light to stream through us and reveal anything that has come from our lips that has hurt others or ourselves. We should also ask the Lord to cleanse and forgive us for sinning against those whom we have injured through saying things contrary to the redemptive, healing work of Jesus.
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?” (James 3:8-11, NKJV).
Our tongues can be unruly and full of poison. This Scripture is speaking to God’s own people, the saints. We must bridle our tongues. James 1:26 says, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless,” (NKJV). If we have a bottle of poison in the house, there will be a symbol of a skull and crossbones on the container warning us to avoid its contents. Imagine what it would be like that when we speak words contrary to our Lord’s will, that we were labeled with a skull and crossbones for all to see! If we decide to be full of God’s wisdom and knowledge every day, then our conversation will be good and profitable to the hearers.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life],” (Proverbs 18:21, The Amplified Bible).
Our lips are the gatekeepers of our words. God’s Word in our hearts determines what proceeds out of our mouths. What does God want us doing with our lips? Jude 1: 20 says, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. . .” (KJV). If God’s Spirit is being stirred in us and we pray in the Spirit, His glory will dwell in us. Where His glory dwells, our faith is ignited and expands to dynamic proportions. Imagine what can happen as God’s miracle-working power dwells in your temple, your body! Can anything contrary to God’s word prevail where His glory abounds?
The Word of God formed creation; our words will impact eternity!
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