What comes from your mouth

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, 

but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Matthew 15:11 ESV

I've been watching what I say this week (more closely) and filtering what I'm going to say by thinking first and speaking second. I didn't realize how negative I can be! Just little things, but they still create an atmosphere around me that people pick up on. Example: when asked what I thought of lunch, I was going to say, "The service was slow." But, since I thought first, I turned it around to, "the food was wonderful." It's just that small little twist, speaking the positive instead of the negative that not only changes how others perceive you but also affects your outlook. You will have a much better day if you look for the good in people, situations, feelings.

I read a book about positivity several decades ago. It was excellent and I wish I still had it or at least remembered the title, but the one piece of advice that has stuck with me all of these years is take note while you're speaking...how many times do you say a negative word? How many times do you say: can't, won't, no, 'un'-words like unable, unwilling, unlikely, etc.? When I started noticing these things in my own speech, I was amazed at how many negative words I used. It's the 'glass is half-empty vs. half-full' of language. Plus, I discovered that when I changed how I spoke to include a positive selection of vocabulary, I genuinely felt better and happier. Give it a try. Let me know how it works for you.

*****

Please join us this week as we pray that our tongues be tamed and that our words are fitting of an image-bearer of Christ. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Rid yourself of these things

But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: 

anger, 

rage, 

malice, 

slander, and 

filthy language from your lips.  

Do not lie to each other, 

since you have taken off your old self with its practices and 

have put on the new self, 

which is being renewed in knowledge 

in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:8-10 NIV

The peace of God

Daily Bible Verse

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, 

to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 NKJV

Time for change

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

I attended a church service several years ago where the Pastor preached solely on this one Bible verse. He closed with this thought:
Close your eyes for a moment and try to picture a world without unwholesome talk, no cursing or yelling, or cruel words. Can you imagine how different our world we would be?
Try to picture it. Try to do that with your own language; set that example for others. We need to build each other up instead of shaming, calling people out, berating each other. We need positive, healing language. It's time for a change. Be the change.

Paul continued with: Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:4

*****

Please join us this week as we pray that our tongues be tamed and that our words are fitting of an image-bearer of Christ. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Dwell in the secret place

Daily Bible Verse

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalms 91:1 NKJV

The power of words

     I'm always in awe when I think about something specific and then go to Church the next day and the Pastor preaches about that exact thing. I shouldn't be surprised though since God is omnipotent. As we were praying last week for hearing, I ran into several Bible verses about speaking and anticipated making that the topic of this weeks' prayer. Additionally, I know several people who endure verbal and emotional abuse by loved ones and wanted to include them in our prayers this week, also.
     Yesterday, the Pastor preached on James 3:1-12 about words and about taming the tongue. It was if God was telling me, "Write more specifically about this." I got goosebumps!
     I'm sure we all have experience with someone who consistently tears people down with words, and hopefully, we all have experience with someone who consistently builds others up with words. What we have to be concerned with is our own tongue. Be diligent about speaking with love. Don't gossip. Refrain from cursing and slanderous language.

James writes:

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures 

are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 

but no human being can tame the tongue. 

It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, 

and with it we curse human beings, 

who have been made in God’s likeness. 

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. 

My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

James 3:9-10

Have you ever visited another part of the country and within a couple of days find yourself speaking like the residents of that area? You start imitating their dialect and word choices without even thinking about it. By the end of the first week, you're saying "warsh" instead of "wash", or "soda" instead of "pop" just by being around others who speak a certain way. Think of the difference we as believers can make by simply watching what we say! Tame your tongue and others will follow.

*****

Please join us this week as we pray that our tongues be tamed and that our words are fitting of an image-bearer of Christ. I'll post daily reminders on:
twitter @7DegreesOfMe
instagram @archadia27
facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Chronological Reading Plan Week 17

Chronological Reading Plan

Week 17
113. 1 Chronicles 1-2
114. Psalms 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87
115. 1 Chronicles 3-5
116. Psalms 73, 77-78
117. 1 Chronicles 6
118. Psalms 81, 88, 92-93
119. 1 Chronicles 7-10