Corona Devo 1975

Ugh.  Sometimes I over-do it with food and I eat way too much, and then my stomach revolts and feels bloated and so full.  

But...after a little while, it goes away.  I regret having had that many chips or cookies, or whatever...and I "pay" for it.  But then, the (bad) feeling goes away and I feel better.  

Ugh.  Not so with my words.  

How I wish it were that way (only temporarily uncomfortable) when I over-do it with my words. 

But (unlike overeating), when my (stupid/sinful/prideful/cutting) tongue gets out of control, the pit in my stomach afterwards won't go away, because our words don't dissolve.

When we use our words and tongue for harm, the effects of regret and discomfort linger.  And (as a follower-of-Christ) they hurt, because this is not His will for us.

We hurt because we have hurt another, and we hurt because we can't take it back. 

Ugh, we "pay" for it. 

And others hurt because they were the recipients of our poisonous word-darts and the lashings of our tongues. 

Ugh, the after-effect for others is ugly, and once I step back (and shut-up), I know it.  Once I let God speak to my heart, and once I slow down and quiet down enough to hear and feel the Lord...ugh.  I always wish I hadn't indulged in words that do not benefit the hearer or the Lord who made those that are hearing those words...and those that I have hurt because I did not control my tongue.

Ugh.  I (always and every time) end up wishing I had kept my mouth shut and my pride silent.  

I say "pride", because I'm pretty sure that's what our tongues (when our speech hurts others and us) always boil down to: pride.   

And so why (Oh, why!?) do we make grand speeches that are rooted in un-grand and ungodly opinions/criticisms/cuts/and sarcasms?  

When my words get "grand" they are almost never about God, and (instead) are usually in some way glorifying me: My opinion, my view, my way.

That's why we say these things, isn't it?  To be heard and seen as superior in some way over others.

Ugh, it seems like if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way, doesn't it?  (James 3:2).

I know. 

If you've ever felt the "ugh" of ugly words spewing from your mouth, and if you know the regret and sadness of saying too much and "paying for it" in your spirit and conscience: it turns out that we aren't alone in not controlling our tongues  and in making grand speeches.  

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 

(3) We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. (4) And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. (5) In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. 

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. (6) And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 

(7) People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, (8) but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 

(9) Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 

(10) And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! (11) Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? (12) Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? 

No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.  ~James 3:2-12

~~~

Ugh.  We cannot correct our verbal over-doing-it alone.  We need God's help, and we have it...if we will ask Him.

Ugh, Father please forgive me us, when our tongue makes grand speeches and when our tongue sparks flames of fire and wickedness.  Lord, WE can't tame our tongues...but YOU can.  Please silence our selfish verbal sparks, regardless of how tiny we pretend them to be.  

We admit that at times our tongue corrupts our entire body, and Father, please help us get this sinful area under Your control before it sets our whole life on fire.  

We know that our words CAN (and have) done that kind of damage.  Save us, Lord, and silence us, Lord.  Amen.

~~~

No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring (James 3:12).  Ugh...don't we know it.  

Make our words and hearts fresh for You today, Father.

~~~

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.  ~Proverbs 12:18


Blessings, 

Sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Corona Devo 1156

Image
At work, we provide Trainings for customers, so that they can be updated and educated on all of the latest features (and how to use them) within our product.  Many companies do this--sharing "Best Practices" are a way to ensure positive outcomes on the customer and vendor sides of things. My kids often offer me "life hacks" that they have learned from watching an online video promising to "save time" and "make your life easier".  And just this week, my husband enlightened me about the "tear-away" feature built into most plastic rings holding cans/bottles of pop or Gatorade together.  When separated, the plastic rips open easily, releasing the bottle--saving wildlife that might be caught if it is discarded as trash, and saving me  frustration or angst because I no longer have to pull with all my might to get a bottle out of the plastic rings.  ( Who knew? )  Life hacks do save time and make your life easier! Who couldn't benefit from...
Read more

Corona Devo 1217

Image
The unanswered “why’s” of life, the disorder of our days, and even the unfairness of our struggles can cause us to question ourselves and also to question our God. But the order-of-Creation and the systems that God has set in place are undeniable answers that swing back and forth like God’s pendulum-reminder that He set the world in motion, and He continues to keep order, even when it seems as if we and our world are in dis- order.   Job was a man going through some heavy and hard stuff.   Maybe we are too.   Job’s trials had caused him to question the order of life, and possibly God’s dominion over it.   We can relate.   The “Why’s?” and the “Why Me’s” can stack up in our minds and hearts, but like a parent exercising loving-authority over a child, God reminds Job and us--of His power, omniscience and of His ultimate authority over everything: Creation… and us today .   Then the  Lord  answered Job from the whirlwind: (2) “Who i...
Read more

Corona Devo 991

Running low on " good things " today?  Doesn't it (sometimes) seem like/trend like/read like/tweet like/water-cooler-chat or backyard-fence-visit like/intimidate like/depress like... there are no  good things in the land? . I know. It's no secret that many have abandoned  the Law of the  Lord,  and at times, that's us .   It is evident all around us that people have  followed each other  in this sin.  When we look around...or when we live our days...we can wonder: Are there  any  good things  left in the land? There are still some good things in the land ...and no matter how bleak we feel the "forecast" for today is...there will always  be  some good things in the land, because God is in the land.   T he Bible reminds us of that today.   ~~~ The Israelites (and their king, Rehoboam ) were God's people, but like all of us at times/seasons of our lives...they wandered from Lord and His ways....
Read more