“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
James 3:9-10 NIV
Happy Tuesday! It’s a great time to try something new. What will you do? Today, I’m going to be mindful of my tongue.
Have you ever found yourself aggravated and talking about someone? Did you feel like you were venting? Many of us consider this type of chat venting because we are trying to deal with something within ourselves. It’s important to remember that we are all God’s children, even the people that aggravate and make us angry. We never know what someone else has been through or what’s behind their words. Also, I heard a smart woman say that often this type of talk is due to insecurities, worry and fear.
James is saying that as Christians gossip, spreading rumors and anything in general that is bad that comes out of our mouths, pollutes Christianity as a whole. It also reflects what is in our hearts, especially when we are angry or under stress. How can you say that you love your neighbor, if you are tearing them down with your tongue? This is something that we all deal with and need to work on.
There are also people in our lives that have the same problem, sometimes worse. I’m sure you can think of someone who lives for drama and creates it. We can help them, but we must be careful not to get sucked in. These types of people can be very manipulative. Try redirecting their talk to helping the person they are talking about. Be thoughtful and have some ideas ready before the strife, gossip and drama begin. If it’s a close Christian friend you might be able to work out a plan together to remind your friend when he or she falls victim to this behavior.
Satan is alive and knows our weaknesses. He is ready to step in at anytime and lead Christians astray at a moment’s notice.
Minding our tongues is a great way to change the world one day at a time. God bless you.
if what you are hearing is in line with God’s word. It’s really that simple.
We have all endured temptations and preserved through life’s trials, but some seem especially difficult. Saying goodbye to a family member too soon, watching a friend slowly die or suffer with an illness, poverty, war, homelessness, hunger, and pain are among of the trials we encounter, and there are many more. How close we live to pain and suffering. Yet, when we search our hearts, we can find a glimpse of happiness even in the most painful moments. Although it may be difficult, there is always something for which to be thankful, and there is always someone who has more difficult trials.
beliefs. John the Baptizer was beheaded after rebuking Herod for marrying Herodias, his niece and ex-wife of his brother (Mark 6:17–29). Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60), as was James, the brother of Jesus. Peter was crucified upside down and Paul was beheaded. Other early disciples were crucified in various places. Christians have been cooked alive, dragged to death, skinned alive, sewn into skins and eaten alive by wild animals, starved, boiled, ground to death, had the inner organs eaten by pigs while alive and tortured in numerous other ways. Christians are still persecuted today.
exponentially from the very beginning. Why are people willing to be tortured and killed without fighting back and all the while praying for those who persecute them? For me the answer is undeserved loving forgiveness and redemption from sin (grace) by faith that brings promises of eternal life. The faith carried by beliefs is so strong that we are able to face adversity in the steps of Jesus. James the Just, who was later stoned to death , said “[b]lessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). The good news is whether you are dying a martyr or living through every day trials, your love for the Lord will lead you to the “crown of life”. Keep the faith.
So, what do you do? First, don’t stress out! Much of what we get stressed over never even happens. Relax and say a quick prayer. Second, really listen. Don’t let your mind wander. Empathize with those who are speaking with you and try to identify the issues. Third, avoid interrupting. Just listen. Fourth, start out soft. If you start out upset, you have nowhere to go. Fifth, think creatively. Sometimes we might not have an answer, and it’s okay to ask for additional time. Sixth, when everyone has gone their separate ways, follow-up in a timely manner. Finally, don’t hold any grudges. Forgive anyone who has offended you and let it go. It may take a little practices, but with time, this process will leave you feeling pleased.
