“LORD, help me control my tongue; help me be careful about what I say.”
Psalm 141:3 (NCV) How does God help us manage our mouth? By going directly to the source: the heart. Have you ever said, “I don’t know what got into me—I’m not that kind of person”? Well, the truth is, it wouldn’t be coming out of your mouth if it wasn’t in your heart first. In other words, it’s not your mouth that gets you in trouble; it’s your heart! The stuff that’s inside of you is what comes out. The Bible says, “Whatever is in your heart determines what you say” (Matthew 12:34 NLT). Your words demonstrate your heart’s condition. That means that someone with a harsh tongue is demonstrating an angry heart. Someone who brags a lot is revealing an insecure heart. A person who is overly talkative has an unsettled heart. Critical words reveal a bitter heart. On the other hand, when you share encouraging words with others, it reveals a joyful heart. When you offer gentle words to people when they’re down, it shows you’ve got a loving heart. If you say kind and comforting words to people, it shows you’ve got a heart of peace. What you say shows what you’re like on the inside. Contamination can only be eliminated at the source. When God helps you control your mouth, he changes you from the inside out. God specializes in heart transplants and is ready to transform anyone who comes to him, no matter what has happened in their past.
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“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
Isaiah 45:3 (NIV) We long to be known, and one of the first ways we are known is by our name. God says, “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name” (Isaiah 45:3 NIV). God is personal, and he calls you by name. There is nothing more intimate than being fully known—all of your weirdness and weaknesses, what makes you laugh and cry, your fears, hopes, and dreams. No one will fully know you on earth, but God does. He’s the only one who sees through the layers of your personality to the core of your being. The God who calls you by name has hidden riches in your suffering and darkness. He can intervene in your darkness, and he will be close to you in that darkness. This should lead you to praise him. What we know about God leads us to worship. When Job lost everything that mattered to him, he worshiped because of what he knew to be true about God: “Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother, and naked I will return. The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away! May the name of the Lord be praised’” (Job 1:20-21 GW). Even as Job lost everything, what he knew about God caused him to fall on his face and say, “God, I don’t know what’s going on, but I understand you’ve given and you’ve taken away, and I praise your name.” Worship itself is a treasure in the darkness. Even in pain, you can know that he is a good and loving God. He knows you by name and notices every detail of your life. He is in control. And he has a plan for your life. You must be open to the possibility that God has gold and diamonds hidden in secret places and be ready to receive and embrace these treasures as he shows them to you. Whether he intervenes or not, you can know he is the intimate, personal God who will be close as you walk through the darkness. This is how you face the darkness and find hope. “Be patient, resting your hearts on the ultimate certainty.”
James 5:8 (PHILLIPS) We’re living in strange and uncertain times. We don’t know what’s happening in the world. We get conflicting information from every source. We don’t know how long this coronavirus is going to continue spreading. We’re not sure how to make wise decisions without all the information we need. When so many things are uncertain, we can remain certain of this one truth: God is in control. “Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. See how farmers wait for their precious crops to grow. They wait patiently for fall and spring rains. You, too, must be patient. Don’t give up hope. The Lord will soon be here. Brothers and sisters, stop complaining about each other, or you will be condemned. Realize that the judge is standing at the door” (James 5:7-9 GW). Why does James remind us several times in this passage that the Lord is coming back? Because it’s the ultimate proof that God is in control. History is God’s story. It’s not circular. There is no circle of life. History is linear, and it’s moving to a climax. God has a plan. God has a purpose. And one day Jesus is going to return. Everything is on schedule. We don’t know when he’s coming back, but the Bible talks more about Jesus’ second coming than it does about his first coming. That means it should change how we live our lives every day. We should be living with great expectation! Although the situation may seem out of control and what you’re going through may be painful, nothing is beyond God’s control. Be patient. God’s timing is perfect. He’s never late. He is in control. The J.B. Phillips translation of James 5:8 says, “Be patient, resting your hearts on the ultimate certainty.” What’s the ultimate certainty? Jesus is going to come back one day. Nothing’s going to stop that. Knowing that history is under God’s control and that Jesus has promised to return should give us all the confidence we need in uncertain times. When you feel like you can’t count on anything else, count on this: God’s got this. And Jesus will come back one day soon to make all things right and new. |
AuthorTaken from Daily Hope by Rick Warren. Categories
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