“Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4
Lord You are in control of all things and I ask You today to be in control of our hearts, thoughts, words and actions. Lord for all of those who read Your word, may they yield to the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray we will take all convictions before You. Amen
Has anyone ever told a lie about you or to you? What about those who spread rumors, or make accusations about you or others? Maybe they took something you said and turned it around to be hurtful to you and to those they chose to lie to. How did it make you feel? Did it crush your spirit when you heard? Maybe you have done those things yourself, what was the outcome?
I have a dear friend of mine who has been crushed by a deceitful tongue for almost six years now, and the way she handles herself and allows God to govern her heart, still amazes me to this day. I have so many times prayed that God would silence the lips of this hurtful person, and I know that in time He will do what He sees fit, so in the meantime I pray for her strength, her faith, and for her heart to be protected and guarded from the blows.
There is nothing fun about being on the receiving end of a deceitful tongue or when the tongue is yours. I have had my fair share of being crushed by a deceitful tongue over this last year and I can tell you it is crushing to the spirit. How about you have you ever experienced it?
How can we be sure we do not have a deceitful tongue or allow a deceitful tongue to crush us?
One is by being honesty with ourselves and before the Lord. Two is by knowing what it means, and three is knowing where the source comes from, which if you don’t know that, then you are subject to fall prey.
Today we will focus on getting honest with ourselves and with the Lord.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself.
- Do I have a tendency to lie to people even to myself?
- Do I struggle with lying?
- Do I twist the truth around in order to make myself look better? That is the trickery
- Do I use intentional deception to injure another person? That would be fraud.
- Do I refuse to acknowledge the truth in order to avoid the consequences?
- Do I allow my hurt and anger to govern my speech?
Brethren, God requires an honest heart. “But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.” Psalm 51:4
Honesty was one of the biggest things the Pharisees lacked. They were deceitful through and through, crushing the spirit of anyone. It was there very deceit that hung Jesus on the cross.
Let’s not be like them, let’s be honest with ourselves and with others. “So put away all falsehood and ‘tell your neighbor the truth.’ because we belong to each other.” Ephesians 4:25
Not only do we belong to each other but we belong to Christ who made us, died for us, and call us to be gentle with our words.
Here is one last way to evaluate your true honesty.
“The wicked are trapped by their own words, but the godly escape such trouble.” Proverbs 12:13
If you always are defending yourself to others than maybe you are not being honest.
Prayers: Lord You desire complete honesty, and I pray that we will no longer lie our way out of things or to others. Lord no matter what may we always be honest, for then a gentleness of words will flow from our mouths bringing life and health to others and us. Amen
