Marching Orders #411B... "Speak of the Devil... NEVER!"

LET THE

SONSHINE

..."Your eyes light up your inward being.

A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul."

Luke 11:34a

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Speak of the Devil...NEVER!

How important are the things we say? Do our words really matter? How 'bout this for starters..."Apple pie tonight, Adam darlin?" Haha! Yes, women especially, have a great power of persuasion with words. We see this in the garden experience from the very beginning. Satan's persuasion with words convinced Eve to sin and she in turn convinced Adam to do likewise. Yes, our words can be used to persuade for good or for evil, and we need to weigh them very carefully.

What do you suppose would have happened when Jesus arrived at Lazarus' tomb, after Lazarus had been dead for four days, if Jesus had said, "Lazarus, you fool...you shouldn't have eaten those mushrooms!" instead of Jesus calling, "Lazarus, come forth!"??? Our words bring forth life or they can bring forth death in the form of criticism, condemnation and judgment.

I've had a terrible virus for the past several weeks. It eventually settled in my throat and for two to three days I couldn't talk without horrible pain, so I mostly spoke very softly and I had to pick and choose carefully what I was going to say because speaking caused so much agony. God used this to speak to me about how important it is to "carefully choose" the things we speak, lest we cause others pain with what we say.

Does anyone like to be yelled at...even if they ARE wrong...I don't think so. Even if they are wrong, when we yell, it will make them angry and justified in not to recognizing their wrong.

A soft answer turns away wrath...the tongue of the wise utters knowledge rightly...." Proverbs 15:1,2 Amplified Bible

"Let your speech at ALL TIMES be gracious (pleasant and winsome) seasoned (as it were with salt)...." Colossians 4:6

There is never a reason to WONDER what is on a person's mind. All you have to do is listen carefully to what they are saying. When a person has a river of life inside of them, it is going to flow out of their mouth. And the opposite also applies.

People full of bitterness, hatred, wrath, and jealousy will spew forth criticism, judgment, and condemnation. We can also tell what a people think of them selfselves by listening carefully to what they are saying about themselves. "I could never do that," says that I have no confidence in God's ability. "I'm too old, too ugly, too quiet and shy, too sensitive or too embarrassed to do that." shows an inner insecurity in who they are in Christ. All of these things are discernible if we will carefully listen to others. If we are quick to listen and slow to speak we can discern these things, because from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

"For out of the fullness, the overflow, the superabundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things." Matt. 12:34-35

"You are snared with the words of your lips, you are caught in the speech of your mouth." Proverbs 6:2

I've heard it taught that we can change our heart by what we say. I believe exactly the opposite is more often applicable. When our heart is changed, what we say will change. A positive heart will profess positive things. Though I'm sure if my ears hear a positive profession often enough, my heart will be convicted and I could be brought into repentance for the evil that is in my heart through hearing what is truth instead of error.

"The tongue of those who are upright and in right standing with God is as choice silver......" Proverbs 10-20

"The mouth of an uncompromising righteous man is a well of life...." Probers 10:11

"The lips of the (uncompromisingly) righteous know (and therefore utter) what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked knows (and therefore speaks only what is obstinately willful and contrary.)"

Ever wonder what your teen's friends are really like? Just listen to how they speak to their parents. Do they yell, argue, and talk back to their parents? You'll know in a few short minutes if they are rebellious and living to themselves or if they are obedient and living according to their parents' and God's desires.

"A self confident fool's lips bring contention, and his mouth invites a beating." Proverbs 18:6

Some of the wisest people I've known, speak very little. You never hear them talking about other people. They seem to get along with everyone... While some of the most foolish people I know talk all the time about themselves and others and seem to have a multitude of problems and enemies... This is no accident.

"He who has knowledge spares his words..." Proverbs 17:27

"He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore associate not with him who talks too freely." Proverbs 20:19

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles." Proverbs 21:23

A (self-confident) fool utters all his anger, but a wise man keeps it back and stills it." Proverbs 29:11 (Amplified Bible)

Our tongues truly do bless or curse...they can bring forth life or death. I'm wondering what it would be like to wear a tape recorderaround my neck all day and record all of my words. I have a feeling, that if I listened carefully, I would know a lot more about myself than I do now. And since I realize how much my words have the potential to really hurt another, I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to carefully weigh each and every word BEFORE I speak!

We are told in Isaiah 55:11 that God's words will not return void...that they WILL PRODUCE AN EFFECT. Just think about it...He spoke only four words and there was light. The Power of POSITIVE persuasion does not necessarily mean many words, but choice words that He would have us speak. His words will accomplish their purpose...and for what they are sent to do, they will prosper. WOW! Doesn't this mean that if God has me bless you..speak His truth over you, you will be blessed? If you speak blessings, His Words, over your family and loved ones, they will be blessed? Praise God!

"So shall my Word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it shall not return to me void--without producing any effect, useless--but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I send it." Isaiah 55:11 (emphasis mine)

So then, if my words are going to have a PROFOUND effect on situations, that means that I am able to control the quarrelling, strife and contention in my home with a guard on my mouth, and with thoughtful, positive words I am able to bring peace and joy.

"An encouraging word makes the heart glad..." Proverbs 12:25

"He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends." Proverbs 17:9

"The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles (from a crack in the dam) therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out." Proverbs 17:14

"By long forbearing and calmness of spirit a judge or ruler is persuaded....and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance." Proverbs 25:15

As David said in Psalms 19:14... Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord. Lord, help us to be slow to speak, always ready to listen, and cause us to weigh our words carefully. I ask for Holy Spirit conviction to come BEFORE wrong words are spoken. Let us listen CAREFULLY to others as they speak, and to what we ourselves are speaking from the abundance of our hearts, and give us discernment for the things that need attention in others, as well as our own lives, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen

In Him and He in me,

Marlene

MARCHING ORDERS #411

Marching orders are compiled from paraphrased verses out of the Living Bible. No commentary is added...they are the pure Word of God.

"As Christ's soldier do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot satisfy the one who enlisted you in his army." II Timothy 2:4 L/B

Don’t talk so much. You keep putting your foot in your mouth. Be sensible and turn off the flow.

Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry. - It is better to be slow tempered than famous; it is better to have self control than to control an army. - If anyone can control his tongue, it proves that he has perfect control over himself in every other way. - Your words now reflect your fate then: either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned. - Help me, Lord, to keep my mouth shut and my lips sealed.

Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps: He never sinned, never told a lie, never answered back when insulted; when he suffered he did not threaten to get even; he left his case in the hands of God who always judges fairly. - If you want to keep from becoming faint hearted and weary, think about his patience as sinful men did such terrible things to him.

No falsehood can be charged against them; they are blameless.

(Living Bible:)

Proverbs 10:19.

James 1:19. - Prov. 16:32. - James 3:2.

- Matt. 12:37. - Ps. 141:3.

I Pet. 2:21-23. - Heb. 12:3.

Revelation 14:5.

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