Last Tuesday I felt so convicted (if you missed the message be sure to go back and listen to it online & read James 3:1-12). We often think of sinning as something we do…not things we say. Many times we even shrink “bad words” to just cursing…instead of any that are not glorifying the Lord. Praying about what to send out today really made me evaluate my own life.
I loved when JP said “There’s something rotten inside so something rotten comes out…Wanna know what’s going on with someone? Listen to how they speak.”
Luke 6: 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Often we use some of these excuses when we talk about others who aren’t around: “Well I’d say this to his/her face so it’s ok for me to say it to you”, or “It’s just a funny story it’s not a big deal”, or “She/he would tell you about it so it’s ok that I do”. I also realized that a lot of times it’s our own insecurities that cause us to put others down. If we say something bad about someone else, it might somehow make us look better/feel better. Those situations never turn out that way though.
When I got divorced a lot of people were surprised that my ex-husband’s affair didn’t hurt me near as bad as realizing all the lies he had told me. JP was right when he said “the only way to cover up a lie is with another lie” and my ex got really good at that. It took a long time and a lot of prayer to forgive him for all the lies and cheating, but I also had to confess to him and ask him for forgiveness for talking poorly about him and his family after our divorce.
It’s a hard thing to go to people you’ve talked poorly about or people you’ve lied to and ask for forgiveness. By doing so though you are allowing for the Lord to give you peace, restore you, and be glorified. I can’t begin to express the peace that finally came from forgiving my ex-husband for his lies, and asking him for forgiveness for gossiping about him and his family. Then through that God provided opportunity for me to share the Gospel with my ex-husband (amazing!). Praise God for his unending mercy, grace, and love.
Is there anyone you have gossiped or talked poorly about? Have you seeked forgiveness? Is there anyone who has hurt you with words? Have you spoken to them about it and forgiven them? Are there times where you get frustrated and curse/yell, or tell a joke/story that would have been just as good without the cursing? Are you working on your speech?
James 3:9-10 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
Father I pray for my friends reading this that we will never lose sight of the cross and the price you paid for our sins. I pray that we will seek forgiveness from those who we have hurt with our words, and forgive those who have hurt us. I pray that we will walk in the light and that the words of our mouth and meditation of our heart will be pleasing in your sight O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).
Praying for you all~
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