Watch your Mouth, part 3

The Lord is an awesome God who is worthy to be praised. As I continued to study His word, I seek understanding. I seek His righteousness, His holiness, His love that He extends ever so generously. His Word washes me daily and I thank Him for His insight that He provides to us as believers. He indeed rewards those who diligently seek Him.

As I think about other things that come out of our mouths, my mind ponders on the words lie and liar. Some try to create a distinction with possible categories of lies. There is no such thing as a white lie in the Bible; a lie is simply a lie. Some consider fudging numbers on a tax return, an adjustment on time sheets, or adding additional job duties on a resume` to get a certain position a white lie. Either you’re telling the truth or you’re professing a lie and most times many are aware of when they are doing it.

Many conceive that “you get ahead” by not telling the whole truth, but that in itself is a lie. When telling a lie, you have to remember what you said. When being truthful, you don’t have to have a good memory. As I continued to study God’s Word, I meditated on Proverbs 6:16-19, KJV, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Did you notice what I bold printed? There are two of the things that God hates which fall into one category: a lying tongue and a false witness that speaks lies.

Many of us, well I would think that all of us hate lies. Who wants to be lied to? It’s rooted in deception and betrayal. It’s disheartening when many say false things about another or sit on a witness stand and fabricate stories that are simply not true. Telling lies tear apart families and friendships. It can destroy homes and communities. It is a deliberate attempt to deceive. It is not from God nor is it pleasing in His sight.

There’s a reason why God hates lies. Consider its roots by what Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it,” John 8:44, KJV.

When watching what we say, we must think about how God sees it. We have to consider if we are speaking blessings or curses, profanity, or lies. We are either condemned or justified by what we speak and as we understand the atmosphere we are creating for ourselves, then will we understand why our lives are they way that they are. If you enjoy peace and serenity, you understand why, it’s not luck. If you struggle with drama and strife, consider your environment and the words you are receiving as well as speaking to others.

“A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue,” Psalm 17:4, KJV

Additional Reference: Hebrews 11:6

Watch your Mouth, part 2

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers,” Ephesians 4:29, KJV

Continuing with the post from yesterday, I examine the use of profanity. Now, I was never one to curse or curse someone out, but for some reason I allowed those words to creep into the pages of my novels. Just as I have mentioned before, in my mind I thought this was reality. But whose reality was I portraying?

The definition profane is characterized by irreverence or contempt for God or sacred principles or things, irreligious. It is further described as not being devoted to holy or religious purposes; unconsecrated or secular. If I had taken the time to look up profanity years ago, it would have saved me from the way I chose to construct my books.

You see, profanity to me was just something people used, even “church people.” I had been in the presence of people who were self-professed Christians (in the church probably longer than I’d been alive) and used profanity. I just never felt comfortable saying profane words, although I used them in my novels. I was just so used to hearing it, it became normal. Initially I saw nothing wrong with a couple of words here and there. It was just the way people talked. It was just the way it was. The thought was what is the harm? Isn’t that sad?

But the problem is that words used that are profane crowd our lives. They speak volumes in the atmosphere that are detrimental to growth in Christ. One of the synonyms of profanity is blasphemy. Blasphemy is defined as profanation: blasphemous behavior; the act of depriving something of its sacred character. Lord, please forgive me ever using that language to do your work because in the process I deprived it of its sacred character. The holiness was lost somewhere in the message due to the delivery. Our words can hurt us even when we think we’re helping.

Take a look at the common synonym, curse, which means a prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon one. Is this what we really want when speaking to each other? The lines of morality are being blended together so smoothly, just about anything is being accepted. Why? Psalms 34:1, KJV, reads, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Today, I let my words be words of praises to Him and encouragement to others. I have abolished all profane words from my novels and aim to live more like Christ as He is the standard. I do not change the words in the Bible to fit my life or lifestyle, I allow Christ to change my life so that I can live according to the Bible.

What are we telling God when we speak?

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer,” Psalm 19:14, KJV.