And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words." ---Proverbs 18:21
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First, I'll complete my title:
It's time to stop speaking those things we'd hate to watch happen.
Okay, moving on. ツ
This past year I've listened to respected, helpful Christians online and although I admire, even like them, oh dear! Their language. Yikes.
And Honey, I don't mean they swear. No, it's that they (often) use words like these:
"People today never face consequences, so they'll keep becoming worse."
"Our immoral leaders won't change. They'll never face charges."
"Prices will keep rising. Grocery shelves will become emptier."
"I'm afraid the middle class will disappear into poverty."
"I've warned you for years: things are gonna get worse."
Man, often have I quipped, "Well yeah, if you want to be a Christian who writes God out of everything! Sheesh."
Gracious. Talk about misplaced faith. Are we believing for more of what God can do or what satan has already done?
What happened to 'we walk by faith and not by sight'? Or, 'Be it unto you even as you have believed'?
What happened to stepping out of our prayer closet, believing God will answer us, then matching-up our words (and lives) accordingly, perhaps like this? --
"I'm believing consequences will arrive soon for those who mistreat others."
"A day is coming, I believe, when God will hold corrupt leaders accountable. He will deal with them as He deems best."
"I'm praying our economy will right itself soon and in the meantime, that God will provide for His kids as the Bible promises."
"We've not yet experienced the last great movement of God upon our planet. Just imagine the wonder yet to come when millions accept Christ and begin acting godly!"
(Some folks believe these verses from Joel 2 fully happened already, but I'm with the crowd that says, no, not yet. But soon! In fact, I'm following reports online of awesome revival already happening.) --
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
And hey, what happened to humbling ourselves and admitting we might be wrong about where we are in God's timeline? That we might not be on the cusp of seven years of tribulation? (I'm old enough to remember that back in the 1970's we were all certain Jesus would come bursting through the church door any minute.)
But I digress.....
Anyway, today may we sincerely ask ourselves, "Is my faith based upon God's best or on the devil's worst? Are my daily-around-friends speech patterns wildly different than my prayers?"
From out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks and I'll tell you... I long for my heart to be so full of God's promises that it splashes out hope and blessings upon everyone I contact.
Why? The eternal outcome, the ramifications of speaking opposite, pessimistic words to a confused, suicidal world is far too tragic to imagine.
Oh, the responsibility of it all!
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." --- Hebrews 11:1
Please note in no way am I saying ignore the bad happenings! But rather, face them, pray against them, then believe your prayers/hope-filled warnings/God-led-actions will change things.
Evil lasts only for a season. God, His word, His love and joy last forever.
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It's been awhile since I recommended Glamour Days at Youtube. She makes old black and white film come alive! Here's a new favorite (those beach pajamas are positively elegant! I'd be all for folks Today wearing pajamas in public if they looked like those. heh.) ツ
"But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” --- Matthew 19:26
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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15
All of this is so true.
ReplyDeleteLots to think about as usual Debra. I listen to all of these people talking about different places in Revelation that we are living at any given moment. I have no idea for sure...no one but God does, and He will make mountains move and the earth shake in His time, not ours. I'm trying my best to just continue living how He would want me to while I represent Him during my time on this earth.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and hugs,
Betsy
Very good!❤️
ReplyDeleteI sure needed to read this today! Sometimes I jump on the "Whoa is me" train and ride it way too long. Our God is the same loving, all-knowing, miracle-working Lord that He's always been. He promises us to stay with us, no matter what's happening in the world. He's created heaven so we can live and reign with Him someday. If I focus on those truths, it helps to realign my thinking. As always, I appreciate your honest posts, Debra. Been praying for you, Tom and Naomi. Hope you're all doing well and enjoying these lovely days of fall! xo
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post. It's a confirmation for what God has been speaking to me. Yesterday I read a post by Carol Graham called "Praying the Answer Instead of the Problem". Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting here with my coffee and enjoying the Fall weather while I read your latest post, and once again, you bless my socks off! I love this! Speak life! Christians, of all people, should be the ones spreading joy and hope in the darkness, and instead we are often the ones who cower in fear and despair.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking too about the whole Revelation timeline thing and how maybe we aren't on the cusp of the Tribulation, and how that might change the way that I live. I feel like when I believe that the world is about to end, I tend to just hold on by my fingernails and try to "make it through", rather than fully immersing myself in living out my faith and making a difference where I am today.
Happy October to you and Tom! Aren't you glad that we live in a world where there are Octobers? :)
Debra, what a wonderful post and definitely one that was needed by not only myself but my friend as well! I just now clipped the post and saved it to my Evernote program and it has its special folder called "Debra's Encouragement", how about that?! I like having it in Evernote because then I can read it on my tablet anywhere instead of just at the kitchen table where my laptop is at.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is - as in today's post about our tongue and what we are supposed to be speaking and what we (a lot of people) actually do speak are not always the same thing. "I" do know the right things to speak but sometimes we need a reminder and I'm so thankful that you do bring things up like this. Thank you!!