James 3:6 ” The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and itself set on fire by hell.”

How many times have you regretted  a hurtful, unkind remark made in the heat of an argument?  And  thought to yourself, “I wish I could take back what I just said.”   The tongue has a way of causing trouble for all of us.  A flippant, or off-hand remark can cause irreparable damage to a relationship…and something we thought was said in confidence, will sometimes come back to haunt us.  The whole course of our lives can be ruled and controlled by our tongues…but for God.

Ezekiel 37:3 ” He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ “

The Lord had brought Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones and asked him this question.  The only appropriate answer Ezekiel could give is, “O Lord God, You know.”  Rather running ahead of God “doing something”, Ezekiel was waiting on the Lord’s direction and working within His Will.  Many times it’s so much easier to “do something” rather than to just trust in the Lord and wait on His timetable.  What we see as good works and “helping” God is more panic than inspiration.

I Corinthians 1:8 ” He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Many have tried to predict it.  Across the centuries, they have prophesied  His coming time and time again…all with the same results.  No human being knows when the Day of the Lord will come…the day when Jesus returns to  judge the earth.  In I Thessalonians 5:2 it tells us that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night…suddenly and without warning.  So it’s important that we be ready…innocent and faultless before Him.

Exodus 2:11 ” …when Moses was grown…he went out to his own people and looked at their hard labor.”

Moses saw the oppression of his fellow Hebrews, and in that righteous indignation attempted to right the wrong…under his own power, in all the wrong ways.  What followed was discouragement and 40 years in the desert with God teaching Moses how to go about setting His people free –  the Lord’s way.   Like Moses, we may have a vision, and maybe even a clear understanding of what God wants…but we’re not ready yet.  We may also need our “40 years” in the desert being discipled by the Lord until He feels we are prepared to do His work.

II Peter 1: 5-7 ” For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. “

Your Christian walk starts out on a  Christ-shaped foundation…grounded in His Word…built on the solid rock of His love for you.  But then starts the journey all Believers must make towards maturity.  This scripture shows the progression from baby Christian to deeply rooted saint.  Like a house being built on a stable foundation, each moral quality is stacked on top of the next…teaching, disciplining, and encouraging as we go.  And in the end, a perfectly built structure will stand before our God.

Psalm 85:6 ” Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? “

Revive us again Lord…that is my prayer today.  Refresh our hearts and spirits.  Revival isn’t something we can  conger up ourselves Lord, You must show up first with a fresh wind from Heaven.  Revive the World’s Church today Lord,  that we as the Body may boldly move forward in Your plan and purpose.  Amen.