April 18, 2005

My Morning Devotions

These last couple of days I have been feeling in my spirit the desire to share what ever my daily devotion was and some of my thoughts while in the presence of GOD.
Today’s reading was James 3:1-12
Taming the Tongue
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The 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 is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

One of my study questions asked: If a man is unable to tame his own tongue, what is the wise thing for him to do?

I answered prayer and ask God for help. One thing I have discerned is to wait and not respond immediately. Whenever I respond with a knee jerk reaction usually in anger I end up spiritually on my behind. Experience is showing the signs of when Satan is at work in a situation. When I become angry that’s a give away, when I say unkind words, that is another red light, when my feelings are hurt, I need to step away and PRAY first. Probably I also need to step out of the situation and get some perspective on why I am hurt, angry, frustrated or feel injured. I have to look at my emotional state not the other person’s or situation. The text also tells me that the Holy Spirit can help me learn self control. Remember we are not fighting the tongues fire in our own strength. The Holy Spirit gives us increasing power to monitor and control what we say when we are offended. The Spirit will remind us of God’s love, and what to do in any situation. We will not react in a hateful way when we are criticized. The Spirit will heal the hurt and help us not to lash out.
In my life application bible on verses 3:6 and 3:8 it gives wonderful comments on the tongue. Anyone who knows how to get the commentary free online please share the link with me.

I noted that in Proverbs 18:7 (Just happen to glance at it) The mouths of fools are their own ruin, their lips get them into trouble.
I certainly have acted foolishly in the past with my tongue.

And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.

This text is from the Amplified Bible:

1NOT MANY [of you] should become teachers ([a]self-constituted censors and reproves of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation].
2For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.
3If we set bits in the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about.
4Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.
5Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!
6And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man's nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).
7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature).
8But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.
9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God's likeness!
10Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.
11Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter?
12Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water.
What you say and what you don’t say are both important. To use right speech and tone you must use the right words at the right time but also not say what you shouldn’t. (I need a miracle Abba) HELP!
The tongue’s wickedness has it’s source in hell itself. The uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage and Satan uses it to divide people and put them against each other. Let us not be careless in what we say. We often tend to regret our words said in haste.
Wisdom lead to peace and goodness, foolishness leads to disorder. Wise loving words are the seeds of peace. God loves peacemakers.
James 2: 17-18 says. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and wiling to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds, It is not partial and is always sincere.
Maybe this blog will speak to other people. I know that I'm in continual battle to control my tongue, my heart, and my emotions. To be the spirit filled woman that God wants me to be. But even though a woman may fall 7 times a righteous woman gets up dusts herself off and starts all over again.