Lately I feel like I've been keeping my mouth shut better. This is a good thing. LOL James 3:2 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. Yes, that is the goal...control over my tongue, speaking only kindness, truth in love, and encouragement. I'm not there yet...but like I said, it's been better as of late. That being said, God wants to go deeper, always deeper.
One of the things that fuels the tongue is the thoughts. Matthew 11:34...For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. Eventually if I keep thinking on something, letting it roll around and around in my mind, it's going to leave my brain and come tumbling out of my mouth. Something I've noticed about the Lord over the years is that He never gets tired of repeating the same lessons. And me being me, I always seem to need the reminders. This morning, as I was going through my routine of feeding the cats, emptying the dishwasher and so on, my mind went to work and an ugly thought about a co-worker popped in my head. Right away I felt an answering thought...."Pray for them."
Yes! Back to that "oldie but goody" solution to negative thinking about other people! I loved the way God immediately smacked down the unkind thought with quick response and purpose. I also love the way that He reminds again the direction He wants me to take.
Recently I was speaking with a sister in the Lord about how discouraging it can be when we repeat the same mistakes over and over....seeming to not make progress, or even go backwards! I know I can walk around feeling like the biggest wretch on the planet! But God brings me back to Himself, back to His ways and encourages me to keep trying. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them, People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Outwardly, I fail, I falter, I fumble and flail about looking for solid ground when I am sinking in my sin. But God sees the heart beneath the bumbling sinner that I can be. He sees the heart that wants to shine for Him! It's as if He takes me by the hand once again and draws me back on the pathway of His love.
There is so much to being a Christian. So many old patterns to be erased, and new pathways to be created and taken. Thankfully we are not alone, but have the Holy Spirit within us to correct, encourage, remind and empower. And thankfully our heavenly Father never tires of teaching us. So when I had this little God visit this morning, I was overjoyed that once again God directed me back to His ways. He is so wonderful and beautiful and we are so blessed to be His children.!
Thank you Lord. You always amaze and bless me. I am once again, so grateful to be Your child. Help me to put into practice the things You teach me, and when I forget, as I often do, remind me again!!
Pray for them!!
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