WORDS
ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS, Beloved of God and me, John 3:16
WORDS “WORTH CONSIDERING” 3/17/20 by Ken Smith
Today’s Scripture (In my email this morning.)
“…You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth…”
(Proverbs 6:2, NKJV)
Don’t Be Snared by Your Words
To be snared means “to be trapped.” Your words can trap you. What you say can cause you to stumble and keep you from your potential. You’re not snared by what you think. Negative thoughts come to us all. But when you speak them out, you give them life. If you say, “I’ll never get back in shape,” it becomes more difficult. If you say, “I’m not that talented. I don’t have a good personality,” that is calling in mediocrity. It’s setting the limits for your life. When negative thoughts come, the key is to never verbalize them. That thought will die stillborn if you don’t speak it. In the tough times, it’s very tempting to vent your frustrations. When you continually talk about the problem, you’re making it bigger. Turn it around and talk about the promise. Let your report be: “God is supplying all my needs. It may look impossible on paper, but with God, all things are possible.”
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I do not have to keep being snared by the words of my mouth. I choose to not focus on or talk about negative circumstances and problems but on Your faithful promises. Help me to keep speaking the right things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Ken’s Thoughts:
So much in the Bible concerned about what we say. In the Amplified 142 verses mentions our tongue. One that is very profound is found in Proverbs 18:20-23, “A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. 22 He who finds a [true] wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord
A wise man scales the city walls of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. 23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles. 24 The proud and haughty man—Scoffer is his name—deals and acts with overbearing pride. Prov.21:23
Of course in the New Testament James (a son of Mary and Joseph) had a lot to teach us about our words: “Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation]. For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about”. …James 3
Another O.T. Scripture that includes what we say is very applicable: “These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. 20 My son, keep your father’s [God-given] commandment and forsake not the law of [God] your mother [taught you] 21 Bind them continually upon your heart and tie them about your neck. 22 When you go, they [the words of your parents’ God] shall lead you; when you sleep, they shall keep you; and when you waken, they shall talk with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
This verse always reminds me of a humorous joke I heard long ago. In a very vocal Southern Church the Preacher was having a good time reminding his congregation of the Holiness of God and HIS Commandments. And as he was going through the big 10 there was a section of matronly church women on the front pew supporting him, very loudly with “Amen’s & Praise the Lords and such.” Then he got into the 7th of the deadly sins and was doing just fine till the last one. At that point one lady leaned over to the other and said, “He’s done preaching now and gone to meddling.” We often try to make our negative remarks look somewhat spiritual, a little sugar on the poison. In both 1979 and 2001, slander destroyed two really beautiful ministries that I know about. One has been restored but the damage done by the words and the discord of gossip was profound.
On the positive side: 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never blush for shame or be confused. Psalm 34:3-5
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:19-21 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. Psalm 199:10-12 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Psalm 119:104-106 Notice the humility…… the quest for obedience. This is Christian…. It is no wonder that God deeply loved David.
This was one of the initial memory verses in the Navigator Pack that I memorized when I became a Christian in 1955. goto: Navigators USA on google. Exceptional foundations for a new Christian.
WORDS “WORTH CONSIDERING” 3/17/20 by Ken Smith
Today’s Scripture (In my email this morning.)
“…You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth…”
(Proverbs 6:2, NKJV)
Don’t Be Snared by Your Words
To be snared means “to be trapped.” Your words can trap you. What you say can cause you to stumble and keep you from your potential. You’re not snared by what you think. Negative thoughts come to us all. But when you speak them out, you give them life. If you say, “I’ll never get back in shape,” it becomes more difficult. If you say, “I’m not that talented. I don’t have a good personality,” that is calling in mediocrity. It’s setting the limits for your life. When negative thoughts come, the key is to never verbalize them. That thought will die stillborn if you don’t speak it. In the tough times, it’s very tempting to vent your frustrations. When you continually talk about the problem, you’re making it bigger. Turn it around and talk about the promise. Let your report be: “God is supplying all my needs. It may look impossible on paper, but with God, all things are possible.”
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I do not have to keep being snared by the words of my mouth. I choose to not focus on or talk about negative circumstances and problems but on Your faithful promises. Help me to keep speaking the right things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Ken’s Thoughts:
So much in the Bible concerned about what we say. In the Amplified 142 verses mentions our tongue. One that is very profound is found in Proverbs 18:20-23, “A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. 22 He who finds a [true] wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord
A wise man scales the city walls of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. 23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles. 24 The proud and haughty man—Scoffer is his name—deals and acts with overbearing pride. Prov.21:23
Of course in the New Testament James (a son of Mary and Joseph) had a lot to teach us about our words: “Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation]. For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about”. …James 3
Another O.T. Scripture that includes what we say is very applicable: “These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. 20 My son, keep your father’s [God-given] commandment and forsake not the law of [God] your mother [taught you] 21 Bind them continually upon your heart and tie them about your neck. 22 When you go, they [the words of your parents’ God] shall lead you; when you sleep, they shall keep you; and when you waken, they shall talk with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
This verse always reminds me of a humorous joke I heard long ago. In a very vocal Southern Church the Preacher was having a good time reminding his congregation of the Holiness of God and HIS Commandments. And as he was going through the big 10 there was a section of matronly church women on the front pew supporting him, very loudly with “Amen’s & Praise the Lords and such.” Then he got into the 7th of the deadly sins and was doing just fine till the last one. At that point one lady leaned over to the other and said, “He’s done preaching now and gone to meddling.” We often try to make our negative remarks look somewhat spiritual, a little sugar on the poison. In both 1979 and 2001, slander destroyed two really beautiful ministries that I know about. One has been restored but the damage done by the words and the discord of gossip was profound.
On the positive side: 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never blush for shame or be confused. Psalm 34:3-5
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:19-21 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. Psalm 199:10-12 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Psalm 119:104-106 Notice the humility…… the quest for obedience. This is Christian…. It is no wonder that God deeply loved David.
This was one of the initial memory verses in the Navigator Pack that I memorized when I became a Christian in 1955. goto: Navigators USA on google. Exceptional foundations for a new Christian.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org
There is but one Church of Christ Jesus,
All who truly Love & Obey HIM are members.
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