For a while now God has been convicting me of a few things concerning my mouth. I have put up a good fight, but am now waving that white flag and conceding to the fact that my Lord and Father ALWAYS knows best.
I'll let you in on what God has been telling me and the verses he has shared to make his point, because I am a little slower than most in learning what he is trying to teach me, he uses a few different avenues.
Gossiping/judging: I think the two go hand in hand. I think I fall more into the latter one, but just the same, my lips are flapping when they shouldn't be. I am going to be brutally honest and really put my self out there, but how else can I be true to my God as well as myself. Most of my judging comes from being "funny" or a smart mouth, it is second nature to me, that it what God is trying to break. I would say 99% of my judging is superficial . . .why would she wear those man shoes? why isn't her child potty trained? "idle" talk, useless words that strike down instead of lift up. Maybe making my self feel better or maybe something I see mirrored in that person that hits too close to home, I am not really sure why I do it, I just do. I rarely judge people on hardships or "real" issues, I've been through enough hard times to know better and to know how things can change from one minute to the next and another thing I don't do is tell people's business, God has taught me that lesson well. That said, that doesn't make what I do, less of a sin. Sin is sin. Well here are some of the verses he has whispered in my ear, in no particular order. . .
Ephesians 5:4 Obscene stories, foolish talk and crude jokes-these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
Romans 14:12,13 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble or fall
Matthew 7:1-5 Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; the you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend;s eye
Last but not least. . .
Matthew 12:36,37 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgement day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you
So you see God doesn't intend for us to judge others but instead to love and lift up.
The second thing God has really been after me about is my cursing. I have a potty mouth, I REALLY REALLY try not to, but yet it's still there. How can I praise God one second and curse someone out with the same mouth in the next, I highly doubt that brings any glory or joy to God. so here are the verses for this. . .
Ephesians 4:29 Don't use any foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them
Colossians 3:7,8 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander and dirty language.
A good chapter to read is James Chapter 3
Maybe putting this out there will hold me more accountable. maybe it will make me more aware of when I'm dong it or maybe it will help me to actually listen to God's voice in my head instead of hearing it and still choosing to do what I want. All I know for sure is that I want to be a better person, a person in which people could see God through me without me having to open my mouth, but just by the way I live my life. What better testimony is there than that?
