“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?
I need to do that verse more. I tend to "gossip" with hubby about a situation going on in the extended family and although I can control my words/anger around others, my thought process about it is one of anger and words I wish I could say, but wouldn't say because I'm trying to control my words (make sense?) God does address in his scripture a lot about controlling the tongue; I guess he figured we would need all the help we could get with it.
ReplyDeletebetty
Yes, it does make sense to me. And I believe most people have some issue controlling all of this, submitting it all to the Holy Spirit. It can take oh, so many forms!
DeleteAnger can definitely be a destructive force in our lives.
ReplyDelete@mirymom1 from
Balancing Act
True in a variety of ways.
DeleteThere is a fine blurry line which can be crossed when emotions kick into play but as humans no-one is perfect, often things like fatigue or tiredness which affects reasoning. I guess logic is the beginning of wisdom and God will have the final say.
ReplyDeleteJust like children do, grownups can simply get cranky when stressed, tired, sleepy or hungry.
DeleteYES! I have a problem in that anger sometimes gets the better of me. I don't want to say or even think bad words. The one that totally does me in is the one using His name. I do not say it nor do I want to. However, wherever I go, including into my own yard, I am lambasted with it. The neighbors are potty mouths and it flows freely over there. When I hear it, the horrible phrase repeats incessantly in my head. I don't want it in there. I do not know how to get it out. That troubles me greatly because the Bible says if we think it, it is the same as having done it. So, every time I hear it and it reverberates through my head, I'm as guilty as the one who said it, even though I didn't choose for it to be in there. I pray to not be able to hear it, for it to stay out of my head. He knows I do not want that phrase in there, yet, there it is. Do you know how to combat this when it is all around you and prayer isn't removing the problem?
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day.
Something stuck in your head similar to an ear worm is hard to control. I am sure God understands. Yet, I know when we hear others use the profane words, it can make it so much easier for them to rush through our mind when we are hurt or angry.
DeleteExactly! I want to know how to make it stop. The others are bad enough, but the really foul one using His name is nearly driving me mad.
DeleteIt has been suggested to me that perhaps I need to just go ahead and say it and that it would be out of the way, that the devil wouldn't have it to keep tormenting me. But, I don't think so. I think, for one thing, I would loathe myself even more if I allow it to touch my lips. Secondly, the devil wouldn't leave me alone. He'd find something else to torment me with, just like a bully does, because he would know he could break me.
I keep praying for Heavenly Father to remove all bad thoughts from my mind, to not let them in there to start with. Our devotional yesterday was about continually asking God this or that, so maybe that's just what I need to keep doing, pestering Him until He makes it stop.
Have a blessed day!
I agree saying it would end up being worse.
Deletewords do matter a lot. I try to be aware of what I say, when I say them, and how I say them. Writing proves easier - that delete button is handy.
ReplyDelete(I do think a certain someone i.e.our President, needs to consider a serious filter before he speaks, tweets, etc)
Most all of Washington needs a filter! There seems to be so little dignity left anywhere. Writing allows us so much discretion!
DeleteWords count! And rage does no-one any good, unless it's channeled constructively. My general solution is to avoid speaking when I am angry - shutting up so that I don't say things I'll feel ghastly about later. Not that it always works.
ReplyDeleteYesterday my child and I had a mini discussion on this - he gave me the quote about anger leading to hate and suffering, Buddha via Star Wars, told him anger has a place too - must be angry against wrong stuff and use it as a prod to action, not words. Empty anger is avoidable, does more harm to the person feeling it than anyone else. But easier said than done.
Righteous anger, like your son is trying to describe is a noble and good thing. Christ had it when he cleansed the temple! The hard part for us is keeping it channeled in the right direction and not allowing ourselves to fall into sin while pursuing it.
DeleteBarbara,
ReplyDeleteI'm guilty as the next person to fall short doing or saying the right things and while I try to keep my tongue on a tight leash to not use inappropriate words they do slip at times. The impurrfect really shines through us humans. Oh, to be more like Christ! Thanks for sharing, my friend. We all benefit from learning from other's experiences. Have a blessed day!
Yes, to have the mind of Christ! Thanks for sharing.
Delete"think on these things" I like that.
ReplyDeleteWhat you plan to do sounds like it'll be inspirational, Barbara.
Thank you, Chrys! Isn't it a lovely verse? Can you imagine what a world it would be if we all did just that one thing?
DeleteI genuinely never use strong curse words, and it took years for me to even feel comfortable typing certain words my characters use. I must've seemed like such a huge prude when I substituted milder words the one time I played Cards Against Humanity. A few other times, I begged off playing the game, since I really don't like the casual use of curse words. These words lose their strong impact when they're carelessly flung around, instead of only used in moments of great anger or judiciously in a long book.
ReplyDeleteGreat point! If we use the strongest words we know in casual, everyday language they lose the impact they could have.
DeleteSome of the biggest troubles I have had is opening my big mouth. Most of this happened in my twenties. I learned the hard way to watch my mouth.
ReplyDeleteI've never cursed much. I taught school and a slip up would be a hassle. However, my developmentally delayed brother loves cursing. Long story short, I learned I did curse a bit. So, I am a work in progress.
Aren't we all?! 😇
DeleteYou are right that words matter, they have power, not only in how we use them but also in themselves. How easily we can recall hurtful words spoken to us long ago, and also positive, uplifting ones. It is easy to lash out in anger, I've been that person too. And today we see the f-word being used as part of everyday language so frequently that no one even stops to think about what it means. I detest it! We can always, always use a refresher course on anger and on the words we use. I'll be following along!:-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Josie!
Delete