A Warning for Believers to Carefully Watch Their Words and Think before They Speak!

17 Jul 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

James 1:19.          Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

So it’s Thursday, our penultimate work day; one day closer to that blessed day of Friday. Thankfully, it might not be as hot as the last several days, but it’s also somewhat cloudy and windy. Guess you can’t always have it how you want it. (smile) Anyway, we have Jesus, and He’s all we need and will ever need! Give Him some thanks and praise for being the wonderful Lord and Saviour that He is!

Now, today,` we’ll look at a very interesting and very appropriate poem for these ungodly and evil times from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s titled ‘A Quiet Tongue.’ And for once, I’m sure that I’ve shared it before, (smile) but with so much senseless and unnecessary talking that’s bombarding us today from all different angles and places, I believe it’s something we should look at again.

So please read with me. ‘Lord, a revealing fact Began to surface today: I talk more than I listen. I seem to be thoroughly convinced That my ideas My inspiring experiences My bits of wisdom Are exactly what all my friends need. Too often I break into conversations Confident that my enlightened insight Will solve the predicament – Whatever it is. Obviously, I feel more comfortable when I’m expounding.

But this morning at a Bible study I cringed when I read Your command In the first chapter of James: “Don’t ever forget That it is best to listen much Speak little, and not become angry.” At first I wanted to run. But as the words kept battering away At my guilty heart I finally circled them with red ink. Now, Lord, please help me to obey them. Remind me daily, hourly That listening is a discipline And a discipline always costs. I know I must pay a price. The price for me Is a listening ear And a quiet tongue.’

Oh friends those words ring so true for so many of us although we try to deny it. In these times of so many new communication methods, we’re all trying to talk at the same time, thus we’re unfortunately only creating a cacophony of noise. That’s a harsh discordant mixture of sounds, from which not much sense can be made. I know that I’m guilty of talking too much, although I try not to. I’ve asked the Lord several times like Bruh David does in Psalm 141:3. ‘Set a watch (guard), O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door (keep watch over the door) of my lips.’ But I don’t think He’s listening, for I still talk too much. (smile)

And this commentary explains that ‘it is a prayer for self-control, specifically in speech. It’s a request for divine assistance in moderating one’s words, preventing harmful or inappropriate language. It highlights the power of words and the importance of using them responsibly.’ And do we ever need it badly in this over talkative society, especially with all the many social media platforms we have  where talk is cheap but wisdom and discernment are sadly lacking.

Yes my people many of us need to make that prayer, entrusting the guarding of our lips to God, for we open our mouths way too much and talk unnecessarily about things we don’t know. Our society is suffering from a surfeit, an excess or overabundance of opinions and idle chatter, and unfortunately most of it is ungodly and evil stuff. And there are several places in the Bible where it specifically talks about keeping one’s mouth shut as much as possible. Cousin Sol alone has three examples in Proverbs.

The first says: ‘He that keepeth (guards) his mouth keepeth (preserves) his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.’ (Prov. 13:2) And the second warning on talking too much tells us: ‘Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from trouble.’ (Prov. 21:23) And the third is one that we hear very often, and  don’t pay much attention to, but it is very relevant to our faith.. It says: ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that LOVE it shall eat the fruit thereof.’ (Prov. 18:21)

And is that ever the gospel truth! For the Lord spoke everything but mankind into existence, and blessings or curses from our mouth are very powerful. Our words, be they good or bad, are very powerful my brethren, and I plead with us to take those three warnings to heart and sincerely ask the Lord to help us put them into action in our lives, for so many of us are getting in serious trouble because of our ‘chatty chatty’ lips.

Then there’s this other warning verse from James, that’s the Bible Promise verse for our poem today. In speaking about Hearers and Doers of the Word, he solemnly advises: ‘Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not (does not produce) the righteousness of God.’ (James 1:19-20) And we can see the indisputable truth in those words for our world has become so filled with angry people that godliness is like searching for a needle in a haystack.

So friends, if we want to reduce the anger and therefore the strife and all the negative things in our world, the fist thing we need to do is watch what we say, and then say as little as possible. For remember what Cousin Sol tells us again in Proverbs: ‘Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace (keeps silent), is counted (considered) wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.’ (Prov. 17:28) And it’s not like we don’t have the wherewithal to do it, for God has given us all that we need to live godly down here, but we’re just too lazy and/or too rebellious to do it.

He’s even generously bestowed on us what we call our Thursday Blessings; undeserved blessings to do His earthly work. That means we have no grounds whatsoever for complaints. So let’s be wise and declare those blessings and thus activate them right now. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!

I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’ 

And having made those declarations (steups!!!) we’re now duty bound to go out and use those blessings on behalf of others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us! Much LOVE!

…words are one of our most powerful tools…be careful how we use them…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit    27 September 2023 Genesis 44:12b.

27 Sep 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  

Genesis 44:12b.         …and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack.

Oh my people, beautiful days are still here! Glory Hallelujah! Yes friends it’s another sunshiny autumn day with shirtsleeve temperatures. And how can we not give thanks to our wonderful God for that eh? He’s awesome! Giving us life, health and beautiful days, along with the forgiveness of sins earned by the blood of the Lamb that was slaughtered on Calvary’s cross for us ungrateful children of men! Wow! And all God’s children shouted in gratitude: ‘Praise the Lord for His goodness to the children of men. His goodness endureth forever!’ And so it does my fellow saints, each and every day of our lives. 

And having shown some gratitude for God’s goodness, let’s now turn to the amazing story of Bruh Joseph. Yesterday we saw him lunch with his brothers and the Egyptians of his household, though they were all at separate tables. Bruh Joseph by himself, the brothers by themselves and the Egyptians by themselves. What a crazy way to dine together! But apparently protocol, or man’s foolish and selfish rules, called for it. And on the outside, everything looked good. But Bruh Joseph was not finished testing his brothers. 

When they departed the next morning, sacks filled with grain, and their money back in them, they had no clue what was about to happen. Bruh Joseph had told his steward to put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack, and before they got very far, he sent the steward after them. ‘And he (the steward) overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words, (the words Bruh Joseph had told him to speak). ‘Wherefore have ye rewarded (repaid) evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth (practices divination)? ye have done evil in so doing.’ (Gen. 44:4b-5). 

‘And they said unto him, wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants (far be it from us that we) should do according to this thing: Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouth we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord’s house silver or gold? With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen (slaves). And he (the steward) said, Now let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant (slave); and ye shall be blameless.’ (Gen. 44:6-10) 

Yes friends, life can be filled with lots of intrigue and deceit, especially in these very selfish, ungodly and evil days. That’s why we need to be very careful with whom we speak or associate, and also guard what we say. For in these times of social media, words are being poured out by the millions without any thought to whom they might hurt or defame. That leads us to some very wise words from James. ‘Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.’ (James 1:19) 

Then later on he expounds: ‘Even so as the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter (forest) a little fire kindleth (sets on fire)! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so (likewise) is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.’ (James 3:5-6) And the scholars rewrite that last verse thus: ‘The tongue is a system (world) of iniquity that sets on fire the whole course of life, and is even set on fire by Satan.’ 

And it certainly is my brethren. It’s one of the smallest members of our body, but possibly the most powerful for it causes wars and stops wars, conveys LOVE, and stops LOVE! You name it, and our tongue is involved somewhere or other. And that’s why Cousin Sol says in Proverbs: ‘Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from trouble.’ (Prov. 21:23) Truer words were never spoken my people! And though I didn’t intend to deviate to the problems of the tongue, it’s always a good thing for us to hear scriptures on it, because it plays such a large part in our lives. 

But getting back to Bruh Joseph’s story. The steward agrees that anyone in whose sack his master’s silver cup is found, will be their slave, but the others will be blameless. ‘Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. And he (the steward) searched, and began at the eldest, and left at (finished with) the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. Then they rent (tore) their clothes, and laded (loaded) ever man his ass (donkey), and returned to the city.’ (Gen. 44:11-13) 

Can you imagine the kerfuffle finding Bruh Joseph’s silver cup in Benjamin’s bag. The Bible tells us: ‘And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house: for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot (know) ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine (practice divination)? 

And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. And he (Bruh Joseph) said, God forbid (far be it from me) that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.’ (Gen. 44:14-17) 

Oh my people, the ball was certainly in Bruh Joseph’s court, and he was surely playing hard ball, giving no inch!! But listen to these explanations from the scholars. They say, ‘There was a sacred character attributed to the cup, for he called it a divining cup (cf. vs. 5,15). This theft may have been punishable by death (cf. 31-32). Divining was fundamentally alien to Israel; God revealed His will explicitly (cf. Num. 23:23) Joseph would certainly not have used these means, but he was playing a role and testing his brothers. He wanted to see if they would seize the opportunity to get rid of Benjamin (like they had gotten rid of him). Would they stand with him? Had their hearts been changed?’ 

Now that was the big question. And like all good drama stories, we’ll leave you right there in suspense. (smile) But if God so desires, tomorrow we’ll find out the answer to the big question. Right now though, let’s declare (chuhhh!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our marvellous position in Christ Jesus. 

Altogether: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And it’s been further promised that if we endure with Jesus right down to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! Wow! So please, let’s plan on enduring to the very end with Christ nuh! Much LOVE!

…a word fitly spoken (at the right time)…is like apples of gold…in pictures (settings) of silver… (Prov. 25:11)                                                                                                                                                                

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ         

         

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 August 2016 Proverbs 18:21.

24 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 18:21.    Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that LOVE it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Oh friends, what a great day it is to be alive! If you’ve read the obits and haven’t seen your name and/or your picture there, then you are one of the blessed ones! (smile) 

And everyday we open our eyes and greet a new day, we ought to be immensely thankful to the Father of all grace and mercy for enabling us to partake, to participate in whatever activities He has planned for us. 

And believe you me, He does have activities planned for us, that’s why we’re alive and kicking today. So please let’s do whatever we’re called to do today with a true sense of purpose and of responsibility. End of sermon! (smile) 

Now let me share a wonderful quote with you – I’m pretty sure I’ve shared it sometime aback, but it is truly worthy of sharing again in the restless and troubling times we’re currently undergoing. It’s taken from my One More Day Devotional – Daily Meditations for People with Chronic Illness. 

It’s the last stanza of a poem written by Amy Michelle Pitzele. And it says: ‘So never let a cloudy day ruin your sunshine, for even if you can’t see it, the sunshine is still there, inside of you, ready to shine when you will let it.’ 

Words of great truth my brethren. But can you believe that Amy was only nine years old when she wrote the poem? No wonder Jesus quoted Bruh David in Psalm 8:2: ‘Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings (infants) thou hast perfected praise?’ (Matt.21:16) 

Yes friends, wisdom is not allotted only to the mature and elderly, but also to the young. As the Devotional says: ‘Life seen through the eyes of a child can be serenely simplistic. Where does a child get that kind of wisdom and that depth of understanding?’ From our heavenly Father of course! 

Remember too what Jesus said to His disciples when they were turning away children from coming to Him. ‘Suffer (allow the) little children; and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matt. 19:14). It just goes to show that childlike faith and innocence and trust are major aspects of our Christian life. 

And the Devotional also tells us: ‘We can struggle to keep the child in us alive. We, too, can recognize that even when the cloudy days come, the sunshine – our smiles, our hopes, our dreams – is still there, ready to beam at a moment’s notice.’ 

So friends, regardless of the weather, let’s make sure that the personal sunshine that’s within us, shines today nuh, as we go about doing the work of Jesus. And all God’s children said ‘Praise the Lord!’  

Now let’s further ramp up our faith by declaring our Wednesday Wail with plenty enthusiasm and sincerity. ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. 

My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

Oh my people, what a joy it is to feel God’s breath of life flowing through us as we work for Jesus and focus on the wonderful future He has in store for us! It can’t get any better than that my brethren! 

However my fellow believers with all of that comes the responsibility and life changing words of our Bit. ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that LOVE it shall eat the fruit thereof.’ 

That means that whatever we say will have repercussions, and according to the words we speak, those repercussions will either be good or bad, and we’ll have to answer for them come the judgement day. As Cousin Sol so wisely informs us: ‘Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles.’ (Prov.21:23) 

Meanwhile, James declares; ‘For in many things we offend all (all stumble). If any man offend not (does not stumble) in word, the same is a perfect man, and also able to bridle the whole body.’ (James 3:2) Unfortunately though friends, none of us is perfect, which means we all stumble and offend to some degree with our words. 

But that doesn’t mean we necessarily have to shut up and say nothing, or only utter a few words. It means though that we have to do more listening, and then think carefully before we speak. That’s the only way for us to eat good fruit from our words and not bad ones. 

And we’ll close off this topic with more of Cousin Sol’s wisdom. ‘He that keepeth (guards) his mouth keepeth (guards) his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.’ (Prov.13:3) And isn’t that the gospel truth my people! 

As the scholars explain: ’13:3. The reward of cautious speech is fuller life and the avoidance of unnecessary trouble.’ 

Oh friends, I couldn’t put it any better! Now let’s go out today and earn rewards through our cautious speech nuh, for that’s wisdom at its zenith! Much LOVE!

…words are so powerful…that they are what the Lord used…to create the universe and all therein…