Tongue and More on Tone Check, from Mom

I found another short page on "Tone Check" from Mom.  I am combining it with her passage on the tongue as they definitely go together.

Colossians 4:2-6 2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.  (New King James Version says: 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.)  

Our speech should be graceful, reflecting the beauty of our Savior. 

Speaking before we think, blurt out, too quick to answer.  This is all to normal for us.  Choose to speak less and speak more carefully.  Speak carefully, by choice and discipline.  Nothing can cause more damage than the tongue.  Believers must develop the habit of keeping our speech under closer control and discipline. 

James 1:26  If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

Hold your thoughts, your tongue and wait for the Lord's direction.  Every time we speak our heart is on parade.  

There are so many Scriptures on the tongue.  Seek God through His Spirit to guide you and let Him, trust Him.  You will be blessed.   Just read through the book of Proverbs--There is more instruction on speech there then anywhere else.  

Also, tone of voice can be effective.  If our spirits are calm and meek, then our words will be also.  Let us watch our words and actions, always careful how we speak.  Talking with unbelievers, as well as believers with the right tone is vital to our witness. 

From me.

Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Lord, forgive me for so often be quick to speak and quick to add attitude to my words.  I do this habitually and you know my heart and how it longs to change.  Lord, quicken our spirit every time we get ahead of your plan for our words.  Give us softness, kindness, love and boldness anytime we open our mouths.  Change our hearts so that our words may be seasoned with salt and glorify You.  In Jesus' holy and precious Name.  Amen.  

God through Proverbs and look for verses on speech.  Pick a few to memorize and hide in your heart.  

New Favorite

 

I love this song.  It reminds me of who God is.  How He is.  As wretched as I can be, He shows kindness.  Even in discipline, He shows love.  What an amazing Father we have.  

Psalm 145: 8-9  The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.  The Lord is good to everyone.  He showers compassion on all His creation.  

Psalm 145:17 The Lord is righteous in everything He does; He is filled with kindness. 

Psalm 86:5 O Lord, You are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for Your help.

Hebrews 12: 5-9, 10-11And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children?  He said, "My child, don't make light of the Lord's discipline, and don't give up when He corrects you.  For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child...But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness.  No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening--It's painful!  But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. 

This song reminds me I have a loving Father who will never treat me with anything but kindness, who loves and accepts me, trains me and sets me on the right track when I stray.  One who will never leave me nor forsake me.  What a beautiful picture of the God we serve.  Who is more blessed than us, His children!

Lord, thank You is the most inadequate phrase to say when it comes to You.  I'm so beyond mere gratefulness...my words can never express the magnitude of this feeling, of what You deserve.  But I say it anyway, knowing that You will know the depths of my heart's gratitude.  Remind us each day of Who You are.  In Jesus' Name I pray.  

The Cross tells the story of God's kindness. 

Romans 5:8  But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 

Prioritize

Hello.  I've been very neglectful of my time here.  I apologize for that.  I don't know why but I just couldn't seem to write anything.  It's not that God hasn't been active.  He always is whether I notice or not.  I think my schedule has been so crazy that I am misplacing my priorities in life.  And that includes time with God.  This is definitely not the way I want to live, nor is it God's way for me.  to quote Adrian Rogers, "If the Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy."  I believe that's what's been happening.  

There is no excuse for this in my life.  I know better.  I know God needs to be my number one priority each day.  It's hard to realize that even the things we do for Him, for others, can become things that take us away from His path.  And I've been running many other paths besides the one Jesus placed before me lately.  Not that anything I've done has been wrong.  I've done vacation Bible school for the kids, helped others. made meals, substituted for people at the cat shelter who were away, fellowshipping with other Christians, etc.  I've even started walking again for exercise.  None of these things are bad or wrong in and of themselves.  But I've gotten so exhausted doing all these that even when I have time to sit with the Lord, I can't even think.  So while the activities are not wrong, they took the place of time with God, time to sit at my Lord's feet and learn, fellowship and just be in His Presence.  And I haven't taken the time to share His daily touches with you guys. 

I am repenting of this right now.  Once again I turn to the path You put before me Lord, and follow You.  I ask for You to give each of us discernment and wisdom to know which steps to take each day, which activities You would have us involve ourselves in and which we need to pass on.  None of us can do everything.  None of us need to do everything.  We only need to follow You.  

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  I was not denying myself, I was piling everything I thought was right, what I thought the Lord wanted on my plate and not listening for His voice.  I did not take time to listen.  

I once heard Joyce Meyer say something along the lines of "If you don't like your schedule, change it.  You're the one who makes it."  And this is true.  In desiring so much to be a blessing and serve the Lord, we sometimes let our own ideas of how to do that block out the Lord's voice and the road He desires us to be on. 

This has been a valuable visit for me.  I really needed to get things right in my mind.  I need my time with Jesus.  I've been starving myself in this and neglecting this outlet He has given me for reaching out to others.  I am sorry.  

I pray that my mistake will be good for you all who are reading this.  I pray that it will make a difference in your lives, that you learn from my error and follow God's path for you.  I pray that all of us will stay true to His leading, and not follow our own ideas, or Satan's detours.  Let us stay the course You set Lord.  Fill us with Your wisdom and discernment and the desire to walk right behind You.  Keep us focused on You.  It's in Your mighty Name I pray Jesus.  Amen