Using Wisdom with Words

Words have the potential to hurt. Whether consciously or not, we all at one time have hurt or offended someone with our words. Whether at your workplace, conversations between close friends or simple exchanges with the cashier at the grocery store, each interaction has the potential to make or break a person's spirit. As Christians, we have the responsibility to speak with wisdom and understand the value of our words.

God cares about everyone, and it is important to be mindful of what we say to others. Walking in love and considering another person's feelings before speaking are vital to the spiritual growth and maturity of a Christian. You can avoid offending others when you use wisdom with your words and operate in love at all times.

Even if the interaction seems insignificant, it can still have an impact on another person. Whether you are a husband who is not using discretion when verbally expressing distaste for the dinner your wife prepared, or you are a manager brushing past a coworker while giving a thoughtless greeting. Everyone we come in contact with is a potential recipient of the negative or positive emotions we possess at that given time.

It is important to check your motives and think before you speak. Are the words you speak coming from a heart of love, or one of selfishness? Proverbs 18:21 says,

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."

No matter what it is you are attempting to communicate, getting your point across starts with choosing your words wisely. Your words have the potential to either give life or cause something to die in another person, so use wisdom. Moreover, be certain that you speak without malice and without intending to invoke anger or negative emotions in another person. In essence, positive and effective communication with those you come in contact starts with you!

Allowing your emotions to rule your verbal responses is the ticket to provoking offense in others. Anger and frustration is not an excuse for speaking negatively to someone. Especially when you know that your words could hurt the other person. The Bible says,

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (James 1:19).

If you are in a tense or frustrating situation, take a moment to listen before responding. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you keep your emotions in check.

When you have the love of God and His Word on the inside of you, it will show through in your attitude and behavior toward others, particularly in your words. Meditate on the Word so that when you face challenging situations with others, you can rely on the Spirit of God to guide your speaking and help you with your choice of words. That way, you have every opportunity to exemplify the kind of responses and love walk that please Him.

I encourage you to communicate in love and watch the change it will make in your relationships! You're not without assistance. God is there to help you master your words and make the most of your conversations with others.

Love is the key to your success in the Kingdom of God.

No Burden

"For the [true] love of God is this, that we do His commands--keep His ordinances and are mindful of His precepts and teaching. And these orders of His are not irksome--burdensome, oppressive, or grievous." (1 John 5:3)

Do you know why the Word of God and the orders God gives to you in your spirit are not burdensome or oppressive? Because everything He tells you is for your good and for your victory!

God knows what it takes to live in victory in this present evil world. In fact, He's the only one Who knows. The people of this world cannot tell you how to live victoriously. They don't know how. But God does! He can make things work, even in the middle of darkness, and if we'll follow His instructions, commands and precepts from His Word, we can too!

Let me give you an example. One commandment that God gave to us is to love one another and forgive one another as He has forgiven us. This command is not grievous because it's the key to our freedom. If you can walk in the love that's been shed abroad in your heart, you'll have joy every day. But if you don't walk in this commandment of love, somebody will get your joy before lunch! God knows that. So, He made a command of love and forgiveness because love works! Without love, there won't be any joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Don't resent God's teachings. Don't consider His ways a burden to your lifestyle. Rejoice over them. Take them gladly by the hand and let them lead you all the way to victory!

Scripture Study: 1 John 5:1-5

A Word About Angels

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." (Psalm 91:11)

It's time to set the record straight. Angels are not kid stuff. They're not little fat babies with long blonde hair and bows and arrows in their hands. Angels are big, strong warriors. They are real. They are powerful. And, if you are a believer, they are a vital part of your life.

We see examples of what angels can do all through the Bible. For instance, when the children of Israel were fleeing from Egypt with Pharaoh's army hot on their heels, the Bible tells us that suddenly the wheels on the Egyptians' chariots got fouled up. They just quit rolling!

Who do you think caused that? The angels, of course!

They haven't retired since then either. Angels are at work today just as they've always been.

A few years ago in one of Israel's major wars, the enemy had their guns trained on Israeli cities. Those guns were the finest military equipment money could buy. They had a range of at least 20 miles and were equipped with electronic gun sights for accuracy.

But something very odd happened. Every time they fired those guns at the Israelis, they either overshot or fell far short of their targets. We know there was nothing wrong with the guns because later the Israelis captured them and fired them back at the enemy with perfect success.

What happened? Angels, that's what!

My friend, that isn't just a fairy tale. That's a real-life example of the involvement of angels in the lives of God's people today. And, if you're a child of God, then you have a right to expect God's angels to do the same kind of things for you.

So, start expecting! Say, "Thank You, heavenly Father for giving Your angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways." Once you've spoken that word of faith, stand fast. Don't fear. Don't waver. Just be patient and keep believing, and you will surely see the salvation of the Lord.

Scripture Study: Acts 12:1-17

Why Did God Create You?

"What we have seen and [ourselves] heard we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have (which is a distinguishing mark of Christians) is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ, the Messiah." (1 John 1:3)

Man is something really special. He is made in the image of God. He is made to have fellowship with God.

Some people get the idea that God made man so He'd have someone to dominate. But God is not a dominator. God is love and love needs to give to someone. That's why God made man. He made him so He could give him His love.

God could have given His love to the angels, and He did that. But giving to angels didn't provide total fulfillment. Why? Because angels aren't made in His image.

You're the same way. Let's say, for example, you have a puppy as a pet. You can fellowship with that little pet just so much, but then there comes a time when you need to talk to somebody. There comes a time when you need to have communication on your own level.

The reason you're like that is because you're created in the image of God. That's how He is. He has a desire to fellowship with someone like Himself.

Dare to believe you're something really special today--a one-of-a-kind creation made by God in His very own image. Dare to receive His love and dare to love Him back!

Scripture Study: Genesis 1:26-31

Keeping Your Testimony Holy and Pure

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:17-18 (KJV)

There are many traps set for the single individual who is living holy. The Bible tells you what to do in a dating relationship that begins to develop into ungodly behavior. 1 Cor. 6:17 says to flee fornication. What does "flee" mean? Flee doesn't mean, "I can deal with it." Flee means get on your running shoes and run. In other words, when you come into a scenario and sense that there is ungodly potential there, don't hang around. Get out of Dodge. That is how you keep yourself holy.

Prayer is essential for the single individual. You have to be prayed up so that you can see trouble coming, and so that you will have strength to flee. Proverbs 6:27 says,

"Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?"

Flee that situation.

This is one reason why a born again brother may end a relationship with a born again sister. Men know that they cannot deal with holding on to a woman and stay holy. So, if he dates a single woman a couple of times, and she jumps all on him, he is going to cut it short. He is trying to be saved. If this woman keeps on messing with him he knows he is going to get in trouble. So he decides he cannot see her anymore, and ends it.

That goes the other way too. Here is a single woman living holy before God. She is dating this guy. They have only been out once or twice, and he has his paws all over her. Here is what to do with him: "Sorry Charlie." I'm looking for a holy man. She will not deal with him any further. She is looking for somebody who can exhibit control.

Holiness is self-control. The way to get a godly mate is to exhibit self-control in your life. Nothing is worth losing your testimony over. So, stay in prayer and in the Word. It is there that you will be strengthened to keep yourself holy and pure, and to live a life pleasing to God.

Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Peter 2:9

Lifebit

There’s a time to let things happen...

and a time to make things happen.
Eccl. 3:1

Think on These...

Live close enough to God that all else seems small in comparison.

The smallest good deed is better than the greatest of intention.

Don’t let what you can’t do…interfere with what you can do.

He who believes is obedient, he who is obedient, believes.

Be prepared for tomorrow…by seeking God today.

Be Courageous

"Be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."
(Joshua 1:7)

Living a life of faith takes courage. Most people don't realize it, but it does! It takes courage to stand up in the face of sickness and declare you're healed by the stripes of Jesus. It takes courage to believe for prosperity and put your last dime in the offering plate when poverty is staring you in the face. There are going to be some days when you'd rather pull the covers over your head and hide than take another faith stand against the devil. But you can't. Because the battle of faith isn't fought once and then forgotten. If you want to keep living in victory, you have to fight it again and again.

There's no way around it. Of course, some of God's people still try to find one. The Israelites, for example. They thought their battles should be over when they crossed the Red Sea. So when they heard reports of giants living in the Promised Land, they decided they couldn't face the fight. Their courage failed them. So they took a 40-year detour through the wilderness.

But you know what? They still couldn't avoid that fight. When the time came for the next generation to enter the Promised Land, the giants were still there!

This time, however, they found the courage to face them. Where did they find it? In the Word of God.

Their leader, Joshua, had obeyed the instruction of the Lord and kept that Word on his mind and in his heart day and night. He'd meditated on it and let it constantly remind him that God was on their side.

If you're going to fight the good fight of faith to the finish, you'll have to do just like Joshua did. You'll have to continually draw courage from the Word of God. So make up your mind to do it. Get into that Word and let it change you from a coward to an overcomer. Then march into battle and slay the giants in your land.

Scripture Study: Joshua 1

Stand Up and Be Counted

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

We are commanded to pray for our country and our leaders. But having prayed, God expects us to act. The elections in the United States are vital to the future of this nation. Our country is in the midst of a spiritual outpouring, and it's vitally important that the right people be elected. We must see to it.

Don't wait until election time is upon us before you start seeking God for whom to vote. Begin to pray now so that the news media and other voices from every corner cannot influence you and cannot draw you in a direction away from the Spirit of God. Pray so that you won't be influenced by natural reactions and natural responses to cleverly designed commercials and ideas.

Start praying now about the coming elections. Whether they are small local elections or major national elections, make them a part of every prayer you pray. Then thank the Spirit of God for His wisdom concerning your vote. Thank Him for giving you His wisdom about what to say and when to say it to others. Thank Him for giving you wisdom to declare the Name of Jesus and declare that this shall be a God indwelt, God-ordained, God-overseen administration.

So register. Pray. Vote. Then stand up and be counted by the power of the living God.

Scripture Study: 1 Timothy 2:1-8

How's Your Spiritual Maintenance?

"The cares and anxieties of the world, and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless." (Mark 4:19)

Did you know that the seemingly innocent things in your everyday life can suffocate your spiritual life if you allow it?

A friend of mine said the Lord told her in prayer one day that this nation had become a nation of maintenance men. "You have so many things to maintain," He told her. "You maintain your house. You maintain your car, your yard, your machines, your hair...."

It's true. You can become a maintainer of so many natural things that you don't have any time left to maintain your own spirit!

When you find yourself in that situation, it's time to simplify your life. I've had to learn that myself. Now when I'm considering something I think I need, I don't just count the cost in dollars and cents. I think about how much time it will take to maintain it. I check to see if I can spiritually afford it.

Second Timothy 2:4 says, "Don't get entangled in the affairs of this life." One thing I've learned over the last 25 years: Nothing is as important as spending time in prayer and in the Word with the Father. Absolutely nothing in my life is as vital as that.

Scripture Study: Mark 4:18-24