“Your atmosphere has ears”. I heard that a lot at church. I sat in a cross between “Ya’ll deep” and “Wow! I get it!”. 2 years later, I can tell you, sis, it’s true. What you say now, not only affects your now, but also your tomorrow. Monday’s Moment this week was about not being trapped by what we say.
Proverbs 6:2 you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.
Since that post, I have seen similar reminders, and decided to keep the party going!
In this walk with Christ, what we say is important. We hinder our progress when we focus on the negative. For example, if you drive a crappy car, it’s easy to complain about the car in your prayers. “God this car is garbage. Please bless me with another car”. Or when talking to our friends “Ugh! This car gets on my nerves!!”. Complain complain complain. Instead, try “Thank you God for this car. It beats walking! I know you are going to give me double for my trouble! Thank you for keeping this car in working order and thank you for blessing me with the better that’s on the way”. This will affect how we view things, and it creates a thankful heart. Thankfulness frees God to bless you! Any parent knows, won’t we bend over backwards for our children when they are thankful? Obedient?
Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Monitoring what you say, being responsible with your words, takes practice. It is natural to complain when things aren’t going our way. It’s natural to wail and cry and declare that life just ain’t gonna get better, because it seems that…well…life just ain’t gonna get better! Ever asked in frustration “How much more, Lord?! How much more?”. Thinking before you speak, and practicing speaking God’s word over your life leads to spiritual maturity and an intimacy with Christ. “How much more Lord?” will turn into “Thank you Lord for keeping me!”. The only way to achieve this is to get into His word. Learn what He says about your situation, and practice declaring it! Every chance you get! We have to renew our minds daily, and our speech is apart of that. On social media yesterday, I posted about what to do when panic/fear/depression/negativity comes: repeat “Jesus I trust you”. Say it until you believe it! Say it to live it!
I’m taking an English class. We had to read, in part The Narrative of the Captivity and the Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson. Mary Rowlandson was a Colonial American woman that was held captive by Native Americans. In this writing she documents her captivity. Her older children were sold off, but she was left with her young daughter, who was sick and ended up dying while laying on her mother’s lap. Her captors bury her daughter quickly and sell her off, leaving her very little time to mourn. She wasn’t even present for her daughter’s burial. The story was very sad and heart wrenching. As a mother, I couldn’t even imagine! But what struck me was her faith. It never wavered. She could have easily shook her fist at God. She had lost all her children, in one way or another. Yet she praised Him for seeing her through. She reminded herself to stay in her word, not forsaking “holy time” with God. She recognized where her strength came from. “I have thought since of the wonderful goodness of God to me, in preserving me in the use of my reason and senses, in that distressed time, that I did not use wicked and violent means to end my own miser- able life.” She knew she was alive, and sane because of God. She was childless, a captive…and thankful. All because she had hid His words in her heart and were able to call on them when she needed them!
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart…
Sis, this is how we need to approach life. Know God’s word and speak God’s word. Find reasons to be thankful. It encourages you in building your faith, which pleases God. It’s important to trust Him. And it confuses the enemy. When you walk into your better, you can thank God for keeping you through that! Your atmosphere has ears, so watch your mouth!
