Did you really just say that?
What is coming out of your mouth?
Did you really just say that?
Haven’t we all known someone who is always complaining? Always reporting negative news? Always wanting everyone else to know how bad off they are? I will never forget when Tony and I started dating. We had a mutual friend who had known Tony and his family for a few years. When he found out we were dating, he was giving me the “scoop” on Tony’s family. He said, “Tony’s mom is one of those people that when you ask how she is, she will tell you.” Lol! There are people like that in all of our lives. And then haven’t we all at one time or another said things that we wish we could get back? Our words are very important. They not only greatly affect our own attitudes and outlooks, but also those of the people who share our world.
Sweet and healthy??
The foundational verse for this blog is Deuteronomy 28:2. Paraphrased in a nutshell, it says if we obey God’s commands, He will bless us. Being obedient to God’s commands has a way of bringing good things to our lives. This includes being obedient with our words. Proverbs 16:24 says, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Sweet and healthy! Who wouldn’t want that, right??
God commands us to speak about certain things. I tend to think that when God tells us to do something, He intends for us to do it, not just take it under consideration. Lol! So, for starters, let’s look at the story of the man set free from the legion of demons. This story is in Mark chapter 5. This man had been living amongst the tombs, away from people all his life. Verses 4b-5, tell us: No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains, he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus, he ran and fell down at Jesus feet begging Him to deliver him. And of course, Jesus did. Then, in verses 18-19, it says, As he [Jesus] was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
Teach them diligently to your children.
This man had a great reason to want to stay with Jesus. After all Jesus had just cast a legion of demons out of him allowing this man to have a real life for the first time ever. What a testimony!!! But Jesus knew it was more important for the man to go and tell everyone he knew what God had done for him. He expects no less from us.
God very clearly intends for us to talk about Him all the time! Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15 (NIV) (Emphasis mine)
We are told in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, to talk of God’s word with our children: “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Well, that pretty much covers all the time, doesn’t it? 🙂
God likes a good song!
And not only are we told to talk about God, but it seems He likes a good song as well. One of the last things he commanded Moses to do before he died was to write a song for the children of Israel reminding them of who their God is. (Deuteronomy 31) In Ephesians 5:18b-19, we are told to “be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” Psalm 9:11 says, Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!
God gives us plenty of instruction as to what should be coming out of our mouths. If we want to stay on the path that puts us in line to receive His blessings, the negative talk must cease. If we spend our time talking about the things He has told us to talk about, I don’t think there will be much time left over to talk about the negative. 🙂
If you are unsure about what is coming out of your mouth, think about the things that are occupying your thoughts. Are they good things? Have you “counted your blessings” recently. If not, that is a must for monitoring what is coming out or our mouths. After all, it is from the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34) What is your heart full of?
If you need more direction, ask the people around you. Or even observe how people react to you when you speak. Do they see joy and peace, or unrest and unhappiness? It is said that what we give is what we get. Are you getting frowns and scowls? Or pleasant honeycombs? Remember what we want to get is sweetness to our souls. We cannot plant thistles and expect to reap sweetness. Try letting the honey drip from your mouth and see what blessings come!
GUARD RAIL: Be sure your words are bringing glory to God.
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Hebrews 13:15 (NIV) (Emphasis mine)