Did I Say That?

"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction." -Proverbs 13:3

I came across this verse in my daily reading this morning and almost immediately I knew it was something I needed to blog about, not for anyone's good except my own (although I do hope it blesses YOU too!). I have experienced this verse in many different ways. I have been on the receiving end of someone who just couldn't keep their mouth shut and spread gossip and rumors about me or my family, some true and some just complete lies. I have had secrets confided to close friends blurted out to precisely who I didn't want to hear (their fault or mine?), and I know that I have also at times been the one doing the talking to others regarding things I have no right to share.

I know that talking is one of those things that women do best and gossip makes for good talk! I also know that VENTING is another thing us women do well! We think that if we are talking to a friend (or two or three or four...) under the context of venting, then by all means, talk and bash and ridicule and judge away! Think about it though, who in their right mind says "Hey, I really need to just talk to you and gossip about somebody right now. Let me tell you how awful they are." BUT something worded more like this, well... "Hey, I really need to vent to you right now about something going on with so and so. I don't want to be judgemental, but I just really need to get something off my chest..." And then they get "it" off their chest with another 5 or 6 people. Gossip under the context of venting.

Can I just say first off that I AM GUILTY!!! Like I said, this blog is directed to myself more than to anyone else. When I am extremely frustrated with someone or a situation I feel the need to talk about it and talk about it and then maybe talk about it a little more, and to anyone that is willing to listen. So, before I say more, let me just clarify something. I do believe that it is GOOD to share or vent with someone who is a close friend if it is to receive Godly counsel and prayer, not to bash or gain "haters" for your cause. I do think it is so important though to think about what you are saying before you speak. This is a lesson that God is currently teaching me and has been working in me for quite a while now! I think it's rather ironic that the first thing I want to do when I hear about someone spreading falsehoods about me or my family is in turn go and start talking about how awful that person is for doing so. Doesn't that make me just as guilty? The cycle just goes on and on!

One of my absolute favorite passages that I always come back to is Philippians 4:8 which says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

They say that what you put in is what comes out. When I am filling my mind with matters that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of a good report, then that is what I will be pouring out to others. This is also the type of person that other people usually prefer to be around, rather than someone who is always complaining and bringing the group down with a poor attitude.

I love the example that David sets in Psalm 39:1-8. "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, Lord make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou has made my days as an hand breadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surly they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. "

As I read this, I get to the part where David is saying that his heart is hot within him, and that as he thinks on what's going on, there is a fire burning within him (he's obviously angry) and then fire and brimstone!... wait... no... LORD MAKE ME TO KNOW MINE END... He starts praying to the Lord that God would show him just how small he (David) is compared to how BIG He (God) is. He expresses to God that he finds his hope in HIM alone. He asks to be delivered from his own transgressions and just asks that God allow him to be blameless among the foolish. (fool - a person who lacks judgement or sense; a weak minded or idiodic person) Doesn't the fool sound EXACTLY like the person you would automatically start talking about? Don't stoop to that level!

"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from trouble." -Proverbs 21:23

"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed if mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similtude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh." -James 3:5-12

I guess that my biggest encouragement through this blog would be to really think twice about what you say, to who you say it and the motive behind saying it. Our words are an example and they can be used for good, to direct others to God and to show love, or they can be used for evil, to destroy another person in an attempt to make us feel better about ourselves. When we choose the latter we are also completely misrepresenting Christ. We as Christians should not be able to bless God and curse another so freely. This just cannot be.

Lord, please help me in this area! It is so hard at times when I feel so frustrated or hurt by another person to not fall into the same things I hate in them. When I have thoughts of anger or hate or bitterness, please replace them with thoughts of love, truth, and purity. When I do have something negative to say about another, help me direct it to you and pray for that person, rather than treat them as they have treated me. I know that I have a lot of growing to do in this area, but please continue to convict me when I slip up. Keep me from judging others and allow me to love with a love that could only come from you.

What to Pray?

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:26-28

It is currently 1:00am and I am having trouble falling asleep. It's funny because I have felt completely exhausted all day, but for some reason I am unable to shut off my mind and rest tonight. Usually when this happens it is because there is a lot that I am thinking about, processing and praying about. While this is the case tonight, I have found that the situation that keeps replaying over and over in my head is something that I have been praying in regards to for a while now, but have only seen things go from bad to worse. Or have they? That being said, I have reached the point where I just don't know what to pray anymore. Which led me to the above verses. It's kind of funny, but I know these verses like the back of my hand, but for some reason when I looked up verse 26 I didn't realize that these verses went together. The part about the Spirit making intercession for us and everything working together for good. When I think about it though, doesn't it just make sense?!

Right now, I have no idea what God would have me pray in this situation. I obviously pray for HIS will to be done, but I don't know what His will is going to look like. I know that right now as I am typing this, praying that the Spirit would pray on my behalf, He is praying to the Father for me in ways that I could never pray for myself. That being the case, doesn't it only make sense that the outcome would be good? This doesn't mean it will end the way I want it to end or even in any of the ways that different scenarios have played out in my head. Actually, most likely it will not.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

Knowing this, I really just wanted to break down Romans 8:26 for myself. Even though the verse is pretty clear just as it is written, I am always blessed by looking deeper into different verses and gaining a clearer understanding.

Spirit (Greek = pneuma) - a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze
Spirit (Dictionary) - the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul or a supernatural, incorporeal being, especially one inhabiting a place, object, etc., or having a particular character

Helpeth (Greek = sunantilambanomai) - to take hold of opposite together, i.e. co-operate (assist)
Help (Dictionary) - to give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; contribute strength or means to; render assistance to; cooperate effectively with; aid; assist or to make easier or less difficult; contribute to; facilitate 

Infirmities (Greek = astheneia) - feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty: disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.
Infirmities (Dictionary) - a physical weakness or ailment: the infirmities of age; or quality or state of being infirm; lack of strength; or a moral weakness or failing

Pray (Greek = proseuchomai) - to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship: pray (earnestly, for), make prayer.

Pray (Dictionary) - to offer devout petition, praise, thanks, etc. to God; to offer a prayer; to bring, put, etc. by praying; to make earnest petition to; to make petition or entreaty for; crave

Intercession (Greek = huperentugchano) - to intercede in behalf of

Intercession (Dictionary) - an act or instance of interceding; an interposing or pleading on behalf of another person; a prayer to God on behalf of another

Groanings (Greek = stenagmos) - a sigh

Groanings (Dictionary) - a low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief; a deep, inarticulate sound uttered in derision, disapproval, desire, etc.; a deep grating or creaking sound due to a sudden or continued overburdening

Uttered (Greek = alaletos) - unspeakable

Uttered (Dictionary) - to give audible expression to; speak or pronounce; to give forth with the voice; to produce audibly; to express oneself, especially in words; to give forth a sound otherwise than with the voice

After looking up this information, I can basically re-phrase this verse something like this:

When I don't know what to pray, there is a breath, or incorporeal (non material) being, who contributes strength to assist me in my feebleness and weakness when I simply lack the strength to offer petition, praise or thanks to God by interceding and pleading on my behalf with an inarticulate sound that is unspeakable, and not able to even be produced audibly, that God's will would be performed in my life and that all things would work together for good for me because I am loved and called by God for HIS purpose.

Wow! Thank you Lord for keeping me awake to show me this. Help me to trust you with my life. I give complete control of the difficulties in my life to you. Your will be done to complete your purpose in my life and the lives of those around me. Amen!