“Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.” Psalms 5:9
I found this verse today, and I think it goes well with today's reading. The idea of our throat being an open grave for us speaks volumes of what an important lesson it is for us. It's something that will always have an affect on us and others, even if it comes up later on in our life.
Sometimes I feel a little guilty when I think about things I would say and talk about with my friends from SPCPA that weren't believers. I know I can't be perfect, but I think about the times when I would use my words in negative ways. What if I closed the door? What if they thought that Christians really aren't anything special if they're all like how I was in my weak moments? It reminds me of the quote "You may be the only Bible some people will ever read." That's inspiration enough for me to try my very best and pray to God to help hold my tongue.
Goodnight ladies :)
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Dear Jessica,
ReplyDeleteThanks for that post...I came across that verse this week, too, and it hit me as well.
Just a note of encouragement about your friends...God has forgiven you for any shortcoming in speech. He loves you and them beyond our comprehending. Continue to pray for them. There is someone in my life (from my elementary days) whom I had wronged, and always carried a burden of guilt about. At my current univ., God brought us back together in a miraculous way and gave me the chance to apologize to her in person. My husband and I ended up giving her rides to church every other week. This happenstance didn't make up for the hurt that I had caused her in our youth, but it reminded me that my God is so loving that he wants there to be peace in my heart.Love covers over a multitude of sins. His will will be done despite our failings. Keep shining, Jess. And be at peace. You are so dearly loved.
Thanks for the living Bible that you are to us. You are such an encouragement to me. :)
And Jess, I wanted to say I fully understand because I work with unbelieving friends/coworkers and feel the same way many days. Especially now, when where I work is going through alot of changes and people are feeling really discouraged and the environment is negative many days...it's hard for me to always be the light that God wants me to be, so I experience a great deal of guilt over the "Why is it so hard to witness and stand out as a Christian sometimes??!"
ReplyDeletePraying you DO experience peace about this, because I know time after time I pray for it and receive it from a gracious God who controls all things. We are only his tools - what a blessing that he chose US, sinful and failing people! - to be his tools. He knows completely how to use us nonetheless. That fact never keeps me from striving with each new day to be more effective, if you will, at work...but it gives me peace.
Thanks for sharing!
AMEN a million times! That's the stupidest, hardest thing about being a daughter of the King in a world that is so un-Kingly. We are surrounded by filthy talk and people who use it, and sometimes we don't even think twice about doing the same. But I love the quote you used, Jess..."You may be the only Bible people ever read." That's eye-opening, and puts a whole new spin on letting your light shine before men. We are direct reflections of our Lord...let's not abuse that privelige.
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