#Faith - The Word on Words

"They are men of violence and injustice. O my soul stay away from them. May I never be a party to their wicked plans. For in their anger they murdered a man and maimed oxen just for fun. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce and cruel."

Genesis 49:5-7, TLB

This is Jacob (Israel) speaking of two of his own sons! He was on his deathbed, giving them blessings for their future. These two were so angry and bad that he had not one good word for them. 

Just to be angry is not sin. You know, Jesus was angry when he cleansed the temple. But we all too often get angry for totally unrighteous reasons. Selfish reasons, that stem from pride.  While Christ's actions driving the animals from the temple and overturning the money changers tables drew criticism from the authorities, in the eyes of God he did nothing wrong.  All too often our anger leads to wrong actions and sin.

Anger left to simmer can lead to violence. Don't keep company with angry people!   At the worst anger can be infectious.  In the least, you can be swept up or harmed by their actions.

My mother's mother, Mama Ruth always said you could judge a lot about a man's character by the way he treated animals. Violence and cruelty are never God's way! We are in the world, but be not of the world.

May God bless each soul that happens this way today!

Barbara

#Faith: #TheWordOnWords

"Then Judah stepped forward and said, “O sir, let me say just this one word to you. Be patient with me for a moment, for I know you can doom me in an instant, as though you were Pharaoh himself."

Genesis 44:18, TLB

Last time we looked at the folly of persisting in an argument just to have the last word and the damage it can do not to allow a little time and distance cool the fires of anger.   Today, let's look at how quickly anger and words can damage people and relationships.

In Genesis 44:18, we read the words of Judah when Joseph's brothers were caught leaving Egypt with the money and silver cup Joseph had planted on them. "...I know you can doom me in an instant...."

Unlike Joseph, we don't have the authority of Pharaoh behind our words.  Yet, our words still carry a lot of weight, especially for those they are directed at.  And even to ourselves, as how we are perceived by others comes in large part by what we say and how we say it.

It takes only an instant to become angry, but in that instant we can do irreparable damage to those around us.  Even if what we say in anger does not seem that bad to us, each of us has different sensibilities.  

Pray to be slow to anger. Try withholding comment once you start to feel anger.  Once again, remove yourself from the situation until you are calmer.  It may be that in retrospect it was not that big a deal. Yet, even if it still seems to be a matter you need to address, better to do so with a clear head and a calm demeanor. 

Has angry words or actions ever destroyed a relationship you were in?  Has cruel words ever harmed your sense of self worth or purpose?  Have you uttered things in anger you immediately wished you could take back?

Barbara

#Faith: #TheWordonWords

“This is what to do,” she said. “Flee to your Uncle Laban in Haran. Stay there with him awhile until your brother’s fury is spent, and he forgets what you have done. Then I will send for you. For why should I be bereaved of both of you in one day?”

Genesis 27:43-45, TLB

Here we go, our first stop in Genesis. This is Rebekah speaking to Jacob after he had tricked Isaac into giving him Esau's blessing and Esau into selling his birthright for a bowl of porridge. Doesn't matter that Esau had some right to be angry....furious with his trickster brother. If they had been in close proximity at this time, there would have probably been a killing, much like Cain and Able. So when confronted with fierce anger directed your way, whether deserved or undeserved, the best thing to do is to make a retreat and give time a chance to cool the fires of passion. Likewise, if you are the one who's anger is heating up, better to distance yourself from the object of your anger until it has subsided.

Yeah, it's hard not to put in that one last comment.....to take that little jab at the one who is ranting at you or angered you, but it is for the best. You'll be guarding yourself from becoming too angry and intense and allow the other person to begin to think more rationally and calmly. Then you can approach them for forgiveness if you did wrong them. Or to find out what was behind their actions and words. It worked for Jacob! Esau was truly happy to have his brother return when he finally did. He had gotten over his anger, gone on with his life and became a successful man in his own right. 

We will probably not have to leave the country or stay away for years. It may take as little or an hour, or sometimes a month or more. Just be in prayer in the meantime as to your actions & intentions, for the other person and what they may be harboring toward you and for the Spirit of Forgiveness to proceed you into your next meeting. 

Do you have a hard time closing your mouth or walking away when angry?  Have you had occasions when you regretted not doing so?   Were you ever taught to "count to ten"?

Barbara

Faith: #TheWordonWords

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

- Phillipians 4:8, KJV

As I had drifted away from Christ in my twenties, I had allowed others to talk however they wanted around me.  I had picked up all the cuss words.  After all, what was really in a word?  Wasn't it more the way in which it was said, the intent?  Along the way, I was using them in comical ways or to calmly make a point.  And when I was angry, oh how well they flowed.  When Christ called me back to Himself in my early thirties, I was in such an angry, unhappy place at the time.  (You can find my Testimony under my Favorites in my sidebar.)


Since the time of my rededication, I have been closer and not as close in my Walk at different times.  But no matter how close, my stumbling block, my problem area, my biggest fight is always controlling my anger and my words.  What words we chose to use do matter!  Matter more than we can imagine or comprehend.  After all, God "spoke" the universe and our world and all that is in it into existence.  And we have John 1:1:  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". 


Back when I first started blogging, I went through the Bible reading, studying, reflecting and praying about each and every verse I found that dealt with speech, dealt with being angry, in order to allow the Holy Spirit to work within me to learn to not get angry, to cleanse my speech.  Along the way, I shared my reflections in sort of short devotion.  For various reasons, I am going to be visiting these verses again.  For my sake and the sake of someone I care very much about.  I invite you to join along as I make these available in a new series of posts here.


Barbara


Do you find yourself uttering certain words when you really had no intention to?  Does anger sometimes get the best of you?  Will you join me in aiming for the mark set in Phillipians in the verse above?