Whoa I got a loose tongue, help me Lord!

We’re prayer warriors, watchmen on the wall, with the full amour of God, unmovable, unshakable always abounding in the word of God, so why are we so storm ridden? Sometimes it seems like the enemy is everywhere in our lives, but he’s not omnipotent, he’s not everywhere at once. He doesn’t have to be because we’re such great helpers! No, no not me, you got the wrong person, I’m not helping the enemy do anything!

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:316

We unleash havoc in our own lives with the things we release into the atmosphere with our mouths. Many times we speak freely without thought about the effects of what we’re releasing into our lives.

Simple things we release which we think are harmless, like checking our horoscope to see what the stars have to say about us. Not realizing it places us in the category of “Soothsayer, Prognosticator, Fortune-teller” and opens up strongholds for the craziness of the enemy. God tells us that He’s the author and finisher of our faith so why are we checking with the stars?

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. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12

James asks us how can we talk bad about, gossip, or curse human beings with the same mouth that we praise the Father with. Notice he didn’t say your brother, James said “human beings”, why is that important? Because the term “Human Beings” includes even your enemies and those that you claim you don’t like (ouch). When you praise and curse out of the same mouth, your praise is defiled for fresh water and salt water can’t flow from the same stream because once you add salt to fresh water it all becomes salty.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26

We need to think before we speak and check what’s in our hearts before we set our lips in motion. What are we saying about others and what are we saying about ourselves. Are we looking at our ability or are we seeking what God has seeded in us? Lord help me rein in my tongue!

“Go out and feed some sheep today!”

Hiding in plain view

I’m looking my best, colors matching, accents are in place and I’ve got my strut just right. If you ask me how are you doing? I’ll say I’m blessed and highly favored while twisting my face into my well practice holy look. I can quote scripture line and verse at will and as soon as the musician hits a few cords I can dance like I’ve been called home, but the truth is I’m hiding.

You see, I’m on the praise team, and I’m chairperson of the missionary board, a trustee member, on the gospel choir, and I work with the youth team, but I’m hiding. I’m a prayer warrior for others, and I’m first at the Altar when pastor calls, but I leave the same way I came because I’m still hiding.

I’m busy doing God’s work for others, making a sacrifice of myself because I’m called to serve and this is why when it comes to my prayer time I’m just so tired that I fall asleep in the middle of the prayer or I hurry and hop up as soon as I’m done. It’s pretty much the same when I read my word and I don’t have time to meditate on what I’ve read or fall on my knees or face to worship God in His Holiness because I’m hiding.

You see I’ve got some things that I’m not sure I want to let go of yet because I might be able to change them, that’s why I pick them back up from the Altar before I leave. Maybe it’s the hurt that was caused to me that makes me feel like have the right to hate because of the wrong that was done. Could be the only thing I’ve known so it seems comfortable to me even though it will eventually kill me. Then there is the past, my past that will slam what’s left of me to the ground if I get into full worship. In the presence of God I’ll seem so filthy that life will once again be worth ending and I’m just afraid for God to look at what I really am, so I’ll continue to hide here in plain view.

The truth is, God already knows you and He’s been with you every step of the way and reason you’ve survived to this point is because He kept you because He loves you. Now He waits for you to join Him in the secret place of the Tabernacle of the Most High (Ps. 91) where He can love you and keep you. Going into the Holy of Holies takes on new meaning because it is where sanctification takes place.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

   “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
   the whole earth is full of his glory.”

 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷ With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:1-8

The time for hiding has come to an end for our God is able to keep us and remove that which has held us back, we need not be afraid of being in His presence. It is there that life saving changes come about and we may gain true freedom. Time to shout “I’m free!”

“Go out and feed some sheep today!”

Sometimes you need to be alone.

Do you ever feel as if everyone is speaking into your life but no one is providing you with answers that offer clarity into your situation? You’re at a point of confusion about your choices and you’re calling so you’re not really doing anything because you don’t want to do the wrong thing. Somehow the more you seek answers the more you wonder if you’re mistaken about the message you’ve received in your spirit and your doubts challenges that which is inside you to the point that you fail to move forward.

“My sheep know my voice” The Shepherd who watch over the flock many times was a psalmist or poet because it helped pass the time and because it also helped him control the flock. Singing and speaking out loud aids the sheep in becoming familiar with his smell and voice, making a bond of comfort between the two, so as the Shepherds stroll to new pastures the sheep would follow him.

When Jesus found the need to get direction and meditate He would go off alone so that He could clearly hear from His Father, sometimes we need to separate from all those around us so we can become familiar with His voice.  I think most of us can agree, prayer is not our problem because we’ve gotten prayer down pat but the hearing is the tough part for there are many voices in the air. Sometimes you need to be alone.

“Go out and feed some sheep today!”