I Said WHAT??

"Whoso keepeth
his mouth
and his tongue
keepeth his soul
from troubles."
Proverbs 21:23

As words were flying out of your mouth, have you ever wished that they were like a boomerang which would come flying right back to you so you could quickly stuff them right back into your mouth before they even had a chance to be heard by anyone?  

Or better yet, when those words returned back to you, just throwing them directly into the garbage because that’s EXACTLY where they belong?

I think we’ve
all heard
the saying,

"Sticks and stones
may break
my bones

But words
will never
hurt me!”

That little ole sayin’ is a big fat lie!

YES sticks and stones may break bones. 

BUT words DO hurt!

www.castingyourcare.com
www.castingyourcare.com

Words have the power to cut deep.

Very deep.

Words can be forgiven, but sometimes very hard to be forgotten.

Words have a way of leaving an imprint on the hearts of others.

An imprint of tearing down and of destruction or an imprint of building up and edifying.

There is
GREAT POWER
in our words

I’m not talking about curse words or telling offensive jokes or things like that.  As a believer in Jesus Christ those things should have NO PLACE in our mouths to begin with.  

I’m talking about our everyday conversations.  

Or those “slip of the tongue moments”.  

Did you realize that there is NO such thing?  

The Word of God says,

"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
Matthew 12:34

Oops!  Convicting, isn’t it?

The Bible also tells us,

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings."
Philippians 2:14

WOW!  Another MAJOR conviction!

You know those times when you’re not even talking to anyone else except yourself, AND THE LORD, and you’re murmuring under your breath?

Yeah those times!

Or when you’re complaining to anyone who is willing, and even to those who are not so willing, about a health issue which continues to plague you day in and day out.  And YES I AM referring to myself!

Here of late, I’ve been asking the Lord to show me specific ways in which I am using my words.  

May I suggest to you that if you plan on doing this, PLEASE make sure you are prepared for the truth to hit you square in the face.  

The Lord WILL definitely pull back ALL veils, shields and excuses which we try to hide behind.  

The Lord will expose point-blank what words you are speaking, how you are articulating them, why they are flying out of your mouth, the tone in which they are being spoken and the motive of your heart in speaking them!

Why, oh, why, did I ever pray that prayer?

I’m just kidding!

It’s a GREAT thing to ask the Lord to “test” and “try” your words, as well as the motives behind the words which you are speaking.

The results can be shocking and a bit overwhelming!

But I need to take it a step further.  

I can’t ask the Lord, and allow Him to show me where I am using my words in a sinful way, and then keep on doing the very same thing.  That would be downright foolish!

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
James 1:22

I was quite shocked when the Lord pointed out how often the tone in my voice to Brian comes across as being “short and snippy”.  I really wasn't aware of this, and it certainly is not done on purpose, at least in most cases!  But of course my excuse is always, “I'm so sorry, dear, I’m just not feeling well.”

No, No, NOOOO!

THAT'S SO WRONG!!

I may not be feeling well, but I cannot, and NEVER should, use my illness as an excuse for a rotten tone of voice, a stinky attitude or harsh words!

The Lord reminded me, NOT that I needed the reminder, of how much murmuring and complaining spews forth from this tiny little organ located on the front of my face!

And, YES, once again I use my stand by excuse, “It's a really bad day.  My symptoms are flaring big time, sooooooo!”

SOOOOO WHAT?

Does my Bible say, “In all things give thanks, except when dealing with a chronic illness which makes me feel miserable, and so that gives me liberty to say anything I choose and in any tone I wish?"

NO!  But I sure do act like that’s EXACTLY what it says!

And then of course there’s that nasty word, GOSSIP!

We ALL do it!

We’re ALL guilty of it!

You know those comments to your husband like, “Did you see those totally horrendous looking yellow shoes that Mrs. Fufu was wearing with that hideous orange and pink flowered dress this morning at church?  And did you see how her three children were tearing up the place in Children's Church?"

Instead, I should say to my husband, "I’m so thankful that Mrs. Fufu was in church this morning.  I know she has a really rough marriage and they deal with a lot of financial issues.  I’ve been praying (only say this if I REALLY have been praying for her!) that she would be back in church soon.  Honey, do you think we could please take her and her three children to lunch with us, and then on our way out of the restaurant, could we please pick up a "to go dinner" for her husband?"

I am going to continue to pray and ask the Lord to reveal to me how I am using my words, no matter how painful it is, because I TRULY desire for my words to be glorifying to the Lord and edifying to others.

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Some things the Lord is teaching me about my words:

  • I cannot use my illness or any excuse to reason away angry words, condescending words, sarcastic words or "short and snippy" words towards my husband or towards anyone!
  • ALL of my words will affect people.  Not just words which are spoken face-to-face, but the words which I type on this website, e-mails I write, text messages I send, comments I post on facebook.  They ALL matter and they ALL will have an affect and I need to be mindful of ALL of them.
  • When I'm talking with someone and I KNOW the Holy Spirit is prompting me to NOT say a certain thing, I NEED to heed His prompting and obey Him!  The same is true when He is prompting me to witness for Him or to speak up for Jesus, I NEED to heed the Holy Spirit's prompting and obey Him!
  • I need to learn to be a much better listener.  I have a very bad habit of jumping into a middle of a conversation and I use the excuse, "Well, I'm stuck at home so much, so when I get a chance to be around people, I love to talk, talk, talk!"  Sounds like another EXCUSE!  There's a time for me to talk and a time for me to listen!
  • When I say the wrong thing or say something with a wrong attitude, and I know I have offended someone, I need to go immediately to that person and tell them I was wrong and ask them to please forgive me.  If I can't get to them, I need to call or text them, do whatever it takes to be able to apologize.  I need to "own it" and make it right.
  • Mama was right when she said, "If you don't have nothing nice to say, then don't say nothing at all!" 

And YES
a children's song
DOES
say it best...


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May God Bless You,

Barb

4 Comments

  • Linda

    July 22, 2016 at 5:04 am Reply

    "Our words have power" ...and, yes that includes written words on the internet too.. Oh, that my words would always glorify You, Lord. I fall short often. Even when I do keep my mouth shut, is my heart attitude right or am I grumbling inwardly? Barb, I suspect many of your readers will be challenged by this post. It is a post that needs to be written - and read. I want to build up and not tear down with what I speak - that's everyone's heart I imagine. How easy it is to stray from that. Thank you for this reminder, my friend. Your presence on the internet is a blessing - thank you for sharing what God puts on your heart. I am soooo glad we have 'met', Barb - it's a real blessing for which I thank the Lord. Sending you lots of love, prayers and hugs across the ocean.

    • Barb

      July 22, 2016 at 9:00 pm Reply

      Linda, my treasured friend. Oh, how I can related about what you said about even when you do keep your mouth shut, is my heart attitude correct or am I grumbling inwardly. It can be so very difficult at time ... MANY TIMES!!

      I also TOTALLY was in agreement when you said that you are sooooo glad that we have "met"!! Like I said before, even though we have not met face-to-face, it's like we have known each other for years upon years. The Lord definitely knew that I NEEDED you in my life!

      Thank you, once again, for your words of encouragement, but once again, I MUST give ALL the glory and ALL the praise to The One Who gives me the words to write, my Precious Saviour, The Lord Jesus Christ.
      I love and appreciate you and I'm sending you loads of hugs across the seas!!!

  • Will

    July 23, 2016 at 11:47 am Reply

    Love this. .since convicting, but necessary. Thanks.

    • Barb

      July 24, 2016 at 5:23 pm Reply

      Will, oh, I know SO convicting!
      It was very hard just to write it and now to try to live it out!!
      God bless you my friend

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