Watch those lips #write31days#day13
But I knew God wanted me to talk about this verse. Yup. This one. Although I would much rather talk about Proverbs 13:14 the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life!
Frankly, I used to be quiet and shy. For those of you that know me, I know you cannot believe it.
But once I got over that and came out of my shell, I pretty much never STOP talking. Which means, my mouth can become my main instrument of sin.
Whoops, I said what I should not have again.
I should be speaking words of life, but I spoke words of death instead.
My pastor Jon Teague (www.2rc.org ) did a sermon Sunday on how we should lovingly walk out conflict Biblically ( PS: I HATE conflict.. hate it. )
The main point for me: If I will stop my words in the first place, not “venting frustrations” or “sharing concerns” about someone else with others (which truthfully usually is about me getting an army around me that will want to see my point of view, all in Christian love of course. ) If I will guard my lips and go to the person I am struggling with in love–
If we will guard our lips and go to the person in love…how different would true Christian community look.
But often I don’t guard my lips.
I will never forget the time I called my pastor at the time, Sterling, Stupid– not to His face of course. But I was mad at him for a misunderstanding, (that was not grounded in reality by the way) ( will you guys please not judge me lol.. we are all sinners in need of grace) and so I texted my sister something that said in it, ” Well sometimes Sterling is just stupid”.
I don’t ever use the words stupid.
That is a mean and nasty thing to call someone .
Guess what. I accidentally sent “stupid sterling” the text instead of my sister.
Stupid Jenn.
And praise the Lord my pastor was so so gracious and loving about it.. and we actually ended up having a great laugh about it– that is after I practically threw up over my shame– one is NOT supposed to call your pastor Stupid.
We still joke about it today. That Sunday happened to be where He was discussing the power of the tongue from the passage in James that talks about the power of our words.
He also mentioned from the pulpit with a twinkle in His eye the power of the text.
So this is not something I can tell you I have down pat all the time at all. But it is something I am wanting to grow in daily.
Lord may I guard my mouth Proverbs 13:3 style.