Word Check

​Love you all, praying for you,
 
I just love God’s Word.  It is truth and life, it is warning, insight, instruction, and encouragement.  Have you ever done a Word Check?  Taken inventory of the words that have come out of your mouth in the last twenty-four hours? Mentally reviewed the conversations you had in the last day...  Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit.  Matthew 12:36-37 – But I tell you that everyone will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every idle word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.  Wow.  Wouldn’t that be by your actions you are acquitted or condemned?  That’s what I would think… but that’s not what God thinks.  It’s not what He said.  Your words are either life or death.  They either build up, or tear down.  They are either positive or they are negative.  Even every idle word – those are words you say without thinking, words you say by habit not conscious decision.  You will give an account of every idle word, every empty word, every useless word.  Your words are useful – they build up, or useless, the ones that tear down.  They are either faith, or unbelief, obedience or disobedience.  They always produce a harvest, either righteousness or judgment.  Are your words praising or complaining?  Building, or tearing down?   Acquitting, or condemning?  Have you ever thought of this?  What do people talk about?  God, themselves, other people, things, or ideas. What do you say about God?  Do you praise Him, or do you blame him (in not so many words).  What do you say about others?  Do you overlook faults, or do you multiply offenses? Introduce them to others… Be careful what you give words to. It cements things.  Your words give credence to things that are death or life, true or untrue.  What do you put words to?   The Israelites grumbled and complained.  People do that all the time, no big deal.  Do you?  Actually, it is a big deal, God heard them, He was listening.  And it cost them the promised land.  They came through four hundred years of slavery, they narrowly escaped with their lives from pharaohs army, they got manna from heaven to eat, they escaped thirst and hunger, their shoes never wore out.  They saw God do miracles, but they lacked wisdom, they didn’t guard their tongue they let it start to grumble and complain.  They didn’t remove themselves from people who grumbled and complained, instead they joined them.  And it cost them everything.  Are your words life-giving, or life-sucking?  Do you ever do a word check?  What has come out of your mouth in the last twenty four hours.  Have you said anything harmful?  Anything that really… isn’t building up.  The fear of the LORD is to turn from evil, every “slow to obey” word, to fully obey, say nothing harmful, seek peace and pursue it.  Have you decided in your heart – that certain things – I will not say.  Does something just really bug you?  Does someone or something someone said, just really bug you.  Do you just have to repeat it to someone.  Do you have to vent to someone?  Will you make a decision to not say it... ever?  If not, your tongue is in the habit of speaking death, not life.  Are you getting together with friends, or having coffee with someone?  Are they grumblers and complainers? Are they doubters and unbelievers? Are they venters?  How will you turn them or redirect them – to life! And God’s Good!  If you can’t, you would be better served to avoid them.  Once you stop for a word-check, how do you prevent foolish, and establish wisdom?  The best way to avoid stupid, is overdose on wisdom.  Let your words be life.  Tell yourself, “Today my words will be life and faith, Today my words will build up and never tear down.”  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you.  And then -  Employ your words for good.  If you’re praising, you’re not complaining, If you’re blessing, you’re not cursing, if you are speaking faith, you are not speaking unbelief.  Speak His Word, Declare it constantly, not only will you guard your tongue, you will release it for good!  You will release faith, your heart will change, your attitude will change, your situation will change, your surroundings will change, and your friends might even change.  You’ll attract those who speak life and faith, and you’ll avoid those who don’t.  Actions, begin with words, and by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be blessed.  Praying that you will take time for a word-check – so you don’t live in empty words, but put your words to use, to build your life, and build life in others. 
 
Love you all,
dad