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“The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.” Proverbs 10:11 NLT Do you ever feel that we are being bombarded with words? Words come at us from pop up ads, ministries, politicians, friends and others trying to penetrate our inner lives and influence or sway us in some way. In fact, there are so many words flying at us, that we often just turn them off in our minds. We may begin to think that words are not important at all.
But that is not what the Bible tells us. Words matter. According to Proverbs 18:21 our words have the power to bring life or death. Think about it. We are created in God’s likeness. We are not gods, but we are like our God, because his Spirit lives in us, working in us and through us. God spoke the world into being. At his command nations and kings must bow. Satan flees when we speak the very name of Jesus. What is dying in your life, that needs to be brought to life? A relationship, a marriage, a dream? Who or what needs life today in your circle of influence? As Christ’s ambassadors and priests in this world, our words really matter. Especially when we choose to speak God’s Word as found in the Bible, atmospheres shift, people are healed and restored, and hope is renewed. How have you been using your words lately? Is someone in your family waiting for a word of encouragement or wise direction? Is a coworker waiting to hear she is not alone in her struggles? Is your pastor waiting to hear that he is doing a good job and that God is using him to change lives? What about the words you speak into and over your own life? Have you checked what you are telling yourself lately? Let’s commit this week to stop all the negative, critical self-talk and speak life into our futures, our marriages and our environment. We have the authority of Jesus when we speak his Word in his name. Let’s not waste it! Pray with me: Holy Spirit, please, make me sensitive to the way I speak to myself and others. I want to be like Jesus and speak life. You are the Spirit of life. Convict me, empower me and use me to change lives, environments and destinies. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen. Dear friend, be blessed to step into the authority Jesus gave you and choose to speak life. Be blessed as you watch dead things come back to life and people bloom in the love and light of Jesus as you speak love and truth over them. Amen. Mary Sumner August 29, 2019
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“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.” Psalm 139:1 NLT If we are honest, no matter how long we have been committed to Jesus, there are moments when we have trouble trusting God. Our faith hits a wall sometimes during the trials and testing of life. His promises may tell us that we have everything we need to live a life that is pleasing to God, but we fail badly, then doubt that we will ever be good enough. Or a loved one does not recover from a fatal illness after many cries to God for healing. Know that God understands.
How can we avoid more of those discouraging times and grow stronger in our faith in the One who loves us and died for us? The answer seems to be that the more we know God, the easier it is to trust him. It certainly has been that way with me. In Jeremiah 29:13 God tells us, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” When was the last time you went searching for God? It has been helpful for me, before I go to sleep each night, to ask the Holy Spirit to show me where God was and what he was doing during my day. It always surprises me how I have taken his presence in my life for granted and ignored the things he has done for me! It was him who saved that parking space and then led me to run into that friend who needed encouragement. It was him who caused the truck to swerve, thereby avoiding the accident. It was God who caused me to call a friend and get the information before I knew I needed it. Where has God been active in your life? I love the amazing photos of earth from space that we have been watching lately as a result of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first step of mankind on the moon. Seeing the vastness of space and the exquisite beauty of earth always causes me to pause and worship God who created it all. In Psalm 19:1,2 we read, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.” What causes you to stop and worship God? God is the only one who truly knows us. We need to truly feel in our hearts what God says about us is true in order to recognize his plans and purpose for our lives. We cannot trust what he says about us until we know and trust who he is. The more we know God, the more we will trust him. The more we trust him, the more we will know who he created us to be. So, what will you do this week to get to know God better? Believe the truth that he is waiting to reveal more of himself to you. Pray with me: Father God, forgive me for taking you for granted and ignoring what you do for me. I want to know you and truly believe what you say. Guide me and teach me to position myself to grow in faith and grow in your truth and love. In your glorious name, I pray. Amen. Dear friend, may you be blessed today and every day with growing in your love and understanding of God. May his truth about himself and you become the firm foundation of your life, so that the storms that come will never blow you off the course he has set for your destiny. Amen. Mary Sumner August 16, 2019 |
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