Daily Huddle - Sat Jan 18, 2020 Honey And Sandpaper

Love you all, praying for you. 
 
Have you ever noticed that some things just don't go together?  One thing I love about God’s Word – it always provides contrast.  That’s because in everything in life – there is God’s Way and Man’s Way.  Praying you’ll review the Relationship Topic – God’s Way and Man’s Way.  Gods Word is abundantly clear on this choice which faces us with every decision we make.  God prompting me about sandpaper and honey recently.  Our words are one or the other.  Numerous times in scripture God speaks of the promised land that He has for His people.  A land flowing with milk and honey.  The Old Testament was filled with natural demonstrations of spiritual reality.  Just like the Israelites had a physical land promised to them.  We too have a land promised to us – the people of God.  It’s not physical, it is spiritual.  Physical land is geography – the place you live.  Spiritual land is also the place you live, not a mountain, river and valley land, but a heart, mind and mouth land.  The land of "Israel" – Where He rules as God – is the place where God is in control of your heart, your mind and your mouth.  The land of "Judah" – is that land of praise – it’s a place you can actually live, no matter where your physical address is.  The land flowing with milk and honey – is a place of nourishment and sweetness.  The heart place, mind space, and word choice that God has for you is always nourishment – a building up, and sweetness – good to the taste.   Taste and see that the LORD is good.  Your words are the land you live in.  Some people live in a contentious land.  Others live in a land of abundance – of nourishment and sweetness.  Your words determine your land – because words fill your heart – and direct your mind.  The land of praise – is nourishment and sweetness.  Proverbs 15:21,23 - The wise in heart are called discerning and pleasant words promote instruction.  Verse 23  A wise man’s heart guides his mouth and his lips promote instruction.  Words are honey or sandpaper.  Harsh words don’t promote instruction.  Harsh words promote resistance and misunderstanding.  Harsh words confront they don’t instruct.  They promote a defense – a digging in – there’s no where to go.  Instruction is a path – it invites, instruction always yields progress.  Instruction is friendship and partnership.  It’s interesting to note in this verse – God tells us pleasant words and harsh words come from the heart – a wise man’s heart guides his mouth.  What’s in your heart will come out.  If your words are harsh – they promote ruin and bitterness, not nourishment and sweetness.  You don’t have a word problem, or even a tongue problem, you have a heart problem.  Wanting pleasant words won’t produce them - only a formed heart will.    Here’s what God’s word produces -  Psalms 119:103 – How sweet are your words to my taste, yes they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.   As usual, when God instructs us in how to treat others – He first demonstrates (sets the example himself), and then He always starts with those closest to us.  How you treat your family, your spouse – is how you will treat others.  Song of Songs – 4:11 – Your lips, O my spouse, drip honey; honey and milk are under your tongue, and the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.   Isn’t it interesting – our marriage and our family should be that land of milk and honey – created by our words.  If your words are sweet and nourishing – building up – to your spouse – they will also be to others.   David said God’s Word – His commands, and precepts are more desirable than gold, sweeter than honey in the honeycomb.  Your words are harsh or sweet, sandpaper or honey – and they overflow from your heart.  Wanting words that promote instruction won’t get you them, only a filled heart will.  First use your words to fill your heart.  Use the words of God – they are always milk and honey, they are always nourishment and sweetness.  Speak them out loud – to fill your heart.  Then the words that come out – will be not harsh but sweet – they will build and nourish everyone around you – starting with those closest to you.  Praying that you will do a Word-Check.  Just honestly ask yourself – What are my words - sandpaper or honey?  Ask you spouse – they will tell you – or your best friend, or your siblings.  Praying that PIVAT and PRISM are your daily Habit – that you live in them all day long.  PiVAT will reveal what God is telling you to do  PRISM will confirm it and tell you how God wants you to do it.  PRISM out loud is God’s Word - His milk and honey filling your heart, so that milk and honey – not sandpaper - comes out.   Your words are the land you live in.  Praying that you will always fill your heart with His Word so you live in that land flowing with milk and honey - the land He promised! 
 
Love you all,
dad