You may know someone…it might even be yourself that’s developed this fateful disease know as Foot in Mouth. Some people are so affected, that the only time their foot comes out of their mouth – is to change socks! It takes wisdom and discipline not to just blurt out anything that comes to mind. It takes us thinking before we speak…is this appropriate?…is this kind?…will I regret saying this tomorrow? So much trouble and misery could be avoided if we’d just learn to think before we opened our mouth.
Tag: christianity
Hebrews 12:14 “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
“to be holy”…what does that mean to you? Holiness is an outward expression of an inward transformation when the Holy Spirit takes up residency inside you. It’s a process of realizing the potential within you for humility, purity, faith, and grace. Holiness is a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus and less like yourself.
Mark 9:35 ” If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Jesus made this statement after hearing the Disciples arguing amongst themselves as to who was the greatest. Pride and arrogance had reared their ugly heads among these Godly men…but now Jesus was showing them that humility and a servant’s heart were far more desirable traits to have.
James 1:26 ” If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”
Nothing gives Christianity a bad name like a person who claims to serve God, but constantly puts his foot in his mouth. When we claim to have Jesus in our hearts, but yell and curse in public, our influence is useless. Those around us will quickly judge us a hypocrite, and any chance of reaching them for Christ is gone forever. If you call yourself a Christian, people are watching and listening to see if you’re genuine…and most times it’s not what you say, but rather what you don’t say that makes the biggest difference.
Ecclesiastes 5: 19-20 ” Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.”
Maybe you’ve heard the saying, Bloom where you’re planted…but if you really think about it, 99% of whether we’re happy and satisfied with things depends on our attitude rather than the physical environment around us. If you’re doing your job unto the Lord, regardless if you’re the President of a great corporation, or the night janitor, you can be happy in your work and be fulfilled. As it says in Deuteronomy 12:7, ” You shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.”
Romans 8:26-27 ” In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
When the situation is so dire that you don’t have any idea how to pray…allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for you. When no words can come through the tears and pain, the Holy Spirit knows what to say. His prayers on our behalf are always timely, always on target, always perfect…for He only prays according to God’s will.
II Corinthians 6:1-2 ” As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, ‘In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
Paul was quoting Isaiah 49:8 to the Church in Corinth, but putting a new spin on it. He was telling them, “Stop thinking that “someday” you’ll receive all the blessings of God. Rather the time is now, and the place is here…so receive.” And so, I speak this into your life today…NOW is the time of God’s kindness towards you…Now is the time of Him bestowing all His Blessings on you…so receive.
I Kings 19:21 ” So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and become his attendant.”
God had directed Elijah to call Elisha to succeed him as Prophet. Rather than vacillate on whether he had truly been called, Elisha boldly made sure he couldn’t fall back to his comfortable old life. So many times when God calls us, we want to hedge our bets, giving ourselves a way back to what is easy and familiar if what God calls us to do becomes too difficult. When we hang onto the past and what’s safe and predictable, God can’t use us to our fullest capabilities.
Philippians 4:6-7 ” Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
When I start to worry and fret over something, the Lord will interrupt my little party with…”Have you prayed about this?” Then He’ll ask, ” What is the best thing you can do about it?” This will abruptly take my focus off me and put it where it needs to be. By giving the burden to the Lord in prayer, I can then gain calming understanding and discernment over the matter…and with peace and a clear head, I can look at this thing that’s been causing so much anxiety within me and view it much more objectively. Sometimes, the best thing I can do is just pray…but there are times when the Lord will open my eyes to an opportunity where I can make a difference.
Matthew 5:7 ” Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
Compassion towards others…in the world today, it may be a little difficult to find at times. We are so very concerned about ourselves and our needs, that we don’t even take the time to be kind to the check out clerk at the store, or the elderly person struggling with the heavy grocery sacks in the parking lot. But the Lord will judge us according to our mercy, or lack there of. His mercy in judgment of us will be based on how merciful we were to others while on this earth…to the degree we were merciful, He will be towards us.
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