As 2009 gets close to the end, I can look back and see how God has changed me this year. My first response is not always fear and worry. It's not that I dont' fall into that, but I am soon reminded to pray instead, to actual do my life verse in Philippians!
But there is one area that is still untamed- my mouth. I don't know about you, but my mouth gets me into more trouble than just about anything else. Whether I am shoving food INTO it or letting words come OUT of it, it always seems to be NOT doing what I want it to.
In James 3:2 it says, "For we stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well." So maybe it is true that the last thing God really gets ahold of is our tongue - that true spiritual maturity means controlling what our tongues say.
This came home to me recently because I kept saying some not so nice things about someone. I could feel the Holy Spirit tapping on my shoulder as I was about to speak but I shrugged it off and continued. Then I felt God's conviction about my loose tongue, and I wanted to argue with God - But it's true! People need to know this because it's not fair! I felt like stamping my foot to get my point across.
It didnt' work, so I'd resolve to keep my thoughts to myself but everytime there came an opportunity to "share" I did so with relish. I would feel remorseful and think "I really shouldn't have said that" but I continued to do it anyway.
So finally I brought it all to God. I want to stop this and I can't seem to keep my tongue silent. WHAT is the deal? My spirit is willing but my flesh (particularly the flesh that is attached to my mouth!) is not cooperating.
It was then that God showed me the bitterness and resentment in my heart toward this person. It is true - the wellsprings of the heart do flow out my mouth. And the well in my heart was rather tainted.
For me, what comes out of my mouth is a direct reading on what is in my heart. I had to address the underlying issue - my attitude toward this person - before I could even hope to control my tongue. Just goes to show, the mouth really IS the final frontier!
~ Blessings, Bronte
