December 18th, 2010
Let Go of UnGodly words
If we take a look at these words we have to agree that they can be hurtful. Not just to others but to ourselves as well.
Before I accepted Jesus Christ into my life, I was guilty of speaking ALL of them (and a few more I’m sure that aren’t listed). After accepting Jesus Christ into my life, I still had to be careful or I’d find myself murmuring about something that I should really have been giving thanks for. Or maybe I’d be tired (that’s one of the times when the enemy tries to attack us), and find myself complaining about some insignificant thing that didn’t warrant complaining about. Sometimes, I’d realize what I was doing and stop. And I thank God for that.
But there were other times when I felt my complaining may have had some merit. Like the times I’d get woken up on my day off (or any day really) to the sound of a neighbor’s very loud music.
I went through a period of first experiencing loud music early in the morning, and of course, I complained. Then, I experienced loud music at other times of the day, and yes, I complained. Looking back, I think God was grooming me. I think He was already in the process of helping me work on increasing my tolerance level. I’ll tell you why later in this story.
Anyway, what I believed to be the ultimate test occurred for several weeks off and on. My neighbor’s music became so loud that I could actually feel the vibrations. How in the world did God expect me to feel about that? Did He really expect me to just continue on with my daily living as if nothing were wrong?
The loud music never lasted for longer than an hour at a time (usually less). And I would mumble a bit, which looking back, I can now see that God’s Hand was already at work because like I told you earlier, I was complaining and now it had been down-graded to a mere mumble or two. Then, I noticed a pattern to the time and day of the loud music, and I decided that perhaps this was something my neighbor needed to do. For example, some people need to play their favorite songs before they go to work to get them hyped up. Some need to play their music loud for a few minutes when they get home because it helps them to release stress.
So, through the power of God’s magnificent strength and guidance, I decided that I was just going to have to accept the loud music as part of the trade off when one is living so close to other people.
And guess what happened?
As soon as I made the decision to accept it and stop complaining…the loud music stopped. As a matter of fact, ALL music stopped!
We all struggle from day to day with our mouth, and what we allow to come out of it. But one thing’s for sure, if we hold steadfast to the power of Christ, we WILL become stronger and better than we can ever be on our own!
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)
Let us be careful of what we say…God is listening
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