Guard Duty

Be careful what you think,
    because your thoughts run your life.

Proverbs 4:23 

 

Have you ever stopped to consider what you allow into your mind?  Do you allow hate and prejudice in?  Do you allow anger and revenge in?  Do you allow harmful thoughts access?

 

What is the purpose of a guard?  To protect!  To keep danger out!  To keep intruders from gaining access!  Solomon tells us that we must be careful of what we think because.....here it comes......what we think comes out as words and actions.

 

Think about something I have mentioned before, Our bodies do absolutely nothing unless the brain tells it to. This includes "instinctual" functions as blinking, breathing, and keeping our heart beating.  Therefore, what we allow into our minds will eventually come out as words and actions.  Putting a guard on our minds will help change how we think, act and speak toward each other. 

It's All In HOW You Say It!

A gentle response turns away anger,
but a harsh word stirs up wrath.

Proverbs 15:1 

 

Why do we TRY to get in someone's face to start an argument?  As a matter of fact, what is the point of arguing?  One of the more archaic meanings of the word "argument" is "a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong."  Yet we take the presenting our reason(s) to mean yelling and shouting them at each other instead of in a calm and reasonable manner.

 

One of my favorite television programs is Homicide Hunter.  Each episode is about a homicide case handled by Lt. Joe Kenda of the Colorado Springs Police Department.  The thing that struck me about Kenda was his calm, even tone and manner of speaking.  Even his catch-phrase, "Well My,My,My" is spoken in such a way that lets you know this man knows how to speak with people and get results.  And it's mostly about tone of voice.

 

I read a study a while back that stated a person can diffuse almost any argument by changing their tone of voice to a non-threatening level.  So why do we believe that loud is better?  Does the fact I can drown you out by talking over you in my LOUD VOICE make me right? Nope!  Yet that seems to be our "go-to" mode of communication.

 

I learned and am learning that softer tones when speaking get attention and a much greater response than yelling.  If someone is upset and grieving, how much good would come of yelling at them to "CHEER UP!!"?  Would it not be more readily received to speak softly and simply say "I am sorry you are hurting, I am here"?

 

Try it! 

Few Words.......

Those who control their tongue will have a long life;
    opening your mouth can ruin everything.

Proverbs 13:3 

 

Ever notice how we are taught in Scripture to go against our natural instinct?  If someone mouths off to us, our instinct is to deliver a blistering response that will, hopefully, shut them up.  Then there's the gossip aspect...we get upset when people spread rumors about us or those we care about, but aren't we guilty of spreading rumors about others as well?

 

When my Grampa took me fishing,  he made it very clear to me that I needed to get all my wiggling, giggling, and yapping out of my system BEFORE we got in the boat.  So we would sit in the boat for hours and we would catch fish as long as I was quiet.  That trend broke when Grampa ran out of coffee and dozed off...his snoring sent rippling waves across the lake.

 

Think about out ancestors who had to hunt for sustenance.  Do you think the one who jabbered away got to bring home any meat?  Probably not.  In fact, he might have brought home a load of shot in his back pockets.

 

One of the things about my BOSS, the Sheriff, is that he is a man of few words.  One does not have to talk a lot to make a point.  In fact, I learned in Seminary that a sermon should be less than 17 minutes in length because you will lose the congregations attention if you preach longer.  I have worked in churches where the preacher prided himself on the ability to preach for 2-3 hours, yet wondered why people stopped coming to the services.

 

Guard your tongue!  Speak few words!  Make them meaningful! 

 

"Make your words impactful! The less you speak, the less you have to answer for later!" - Albert Einstein (credited)

True Friend or Sneaky Enemy?

An open rebuke
    is better than hidden love!

Wounds from a sincere friend
    are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Proverbs 27:5-6 

 Do you have friends that you trust without question?  True friends are those who will be truthful with you whether you like it or not.  They have earned your trust and respect, so they have also earned the right to speak the truth to you without fear.

I have a friend who is in no way afraid to tell me when I have said or done something wrong, and I can do return the favor.  If I go to my friend complaining about some situation, I will usually hear something along the lines of "stop being a jackass" or "how DARE they".  True friends aren't afraid to tell the truth.

Now....I am HIGHLY suspicious of those who are tell me just what I want to hear all the time (most of the time I figure they are trying to sell me something or trying to get money out of me).  I would rather you tell me the truth than tell me sweet lies!

 

Our Words Have Consequences!

You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say. What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.

Proverbs 18:20-21 

 

When was the last time you said something you regretted the second the words left your mouth?  Have you ever said something hurtful to someone just to hurt them?  Have you ever said something you did not mean?

 

Now, let me ask you something, when a tank fires a round....can that round be unfired?  When we say something we wish we hadn't, can we unsay those words?

Have you ever wished you could have said something when you actually didn't?

Think of the last time you spoke words of caring and support at the right time.

Think of the last time you spoke words of gratitude and you received a smile in return.

 

That great theologian, George Carlin, said, "I love words!  The same words we use to hurt can also heal."  He has a point.  And here's today's point: When we speak, we must live with the consequences, good or bad.  

 

Before speaking your mind, make sure to use your mind to filter your words. Choose your words wisely.    

The Rest Of The Story

The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.

Deuteronomy 29:29 

 

I was reading an article, by one of my favorite author's, this morning and at first I didn't like his perspective, his point or his point of view.  However, the more I pondered it, the more I realized what a complete idiot I have been for so long.

 

When God is silent, I figure He either is not interested in talking with me or I've "lost my touch" so to speak.  Because sometimes, not matter how many words I use to get my point across to God, I hear only silence. But I discovered something about myself this morning....silence can be deafening.

  

One of the things the article stated was that God doesn't give us the whole story, because we could not handle it if He did.  Can you imagine if God told you how long you would live, what you would face during your life, and the exact moment and method of your passing?  I think my response would be "Okay, that's pretty horrific, so can we just go ahead and end me now?"  

 

God has knowledge that we don't need to know.  But we are stubborn little cusses who think we need to know everything about everything.  We are IDIOTS!  

 

I've shared with you before that during my quiet time, I crochet, using each stitch as a prayer.  Normally, I have no idea what design, if any, to use and I have no idea who to give it to, but God does.  And usually, when I get to the last few stitches,  God doesn't say a word, He merely puts a face in my mind and then I know.  I don't know their story and don't need to.  What I DO know is that in God's Silence, He knows who needs what and when.

God is not silent because He's ignoring us.  God's silence is protecting us because He loves us too much to tell us everything.

 

 

Words Words Words....Time to GROW UP!

It’s just the same with our tongues! It’s a small muscle, capable of great eloquence.  And do you know how many forest fires begin with a single ember from a small campfire? The tongue is a blazing fire seeking to ignite an entire world of vices. The tongue is unique among all parts of the body because it is capable of corrupting the whole body. If that were not enough, it ignites and consumes the course of creation with a fuel that originates in hell itself. James 3:5-6 

Ever had someone say something about you that really hurt?  When I was a child, I was almost always the smallest person in my class.  And, thus, almost always the target of the comments and insults children are prone so fire as a "joke."  I was told to just remember, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."  

May I share a bitter truth?  That little quip I was told to remember was, and is, a LIE!  I would rather have been beaten senseless with sticks and stones than have to endure the bitter, sharp, cruel words.

Did you know that what we say can not only hurt someone's feelings, but can also damage or destroy their reputation, or worse, destroy the person's life?  Enter the internet's Social Media sites.  People take things posted on Social Media WAY too seriously.  I have to shake my head when I see some of the cruel and hurtful things posted.  I have to wonder why.  Why was it SO important to air your drama?  Was it to seek support from others who don't know (or care to know) ALL the facts?  Was it to try to get others to feel sorry for the poster (oh you poor thing)? 

My Gramma once told me, "If you wouldn't want it said about you then don't say it about anyone else."  Wise advice!  

We must be careful of what we say and to whom we say it.  Ecclesiastes 5:2 reminds us "Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think.
Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear.
God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better."

Speak less, speak truth, speak only in love! 

 

THINK BEFORE TALKING!!!

Think before you speak,
    and be careful about what you say to God.
God is in heaven,
    and you are on the earth,
    so say only a few words to God.
The saying is true: Bad dreams come from too much worrying,
    and too many words come from foolish people.

If you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it. God is not happy with fools, so give God what you promised. It is better not to promise anything than to promise something and not do it. Don’t let your words cause you to sin, and don’t say to the priest at the Temple, “I didn’t mean what I promised.” If you do, God will become angry with your words and will destroy everything you have worked for. Many useless promises are like so many dreams; they mean nothing. You should respect God.

 Ecclesiastes 5:2-7

I like to observe people.  People are fascinating to me.  Especially those who have some quirks.  But one of the quirks I have noticed becoming more and more prevalent is talking without thinking.  Let's face it, people like to talk.  Let's also face the cold hard truth that people don't like to think.  Whatever is on their mind is coming out like a bull at a rodeo!

Sadly, many of those who speak without thinking seem to be pretty proud of that fact.  One person I recently spoke with boldly told me, "I'm straight up saying what is on my mind and if people don't like it that's THEIR problem, not mine!"  Hmmmmm.......so by that logic, I can destroy someone's reputation because I say whatever is on my mind....and that's okay?  I can ruin someone's marriage because I say whatever I am thinking....and that's not MY problem?

But what we say IS our problem!  Why?  Remember the very words of Christ recorded in Matthew 7:12: "Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets."  If you don't want it said about you, then don't say it about anyone else!!!  How difficult is that?  

God created us with a brain.  That brain is more than just a way to keep our ears apart!  That brain is to be used to think about what we are saying or doing and how that will hurt or help others.   But we like to blame everyone else when we are the ones who caused the damage because we spoke without thinking.  

Speak truth!  Not the "truth" we want others to believe, but the clear truth before God!  If you were standing before God and He would render the verdict as to the truth of your words, would your words meet HIS standard?

And yet all it takes is THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!  

Ask yourself, is what I am about to release from my mouth:

•  Helpful?
• Encouraging?
• Uplifting?
• Truth?

If not, then is shouldn't be spoken.  Remember, if you don't want it said about you.....