Daily Devotional Feb 24th 2021: Me, Myself, and I, Badmouth!

When I hear someone say something like "Me and my friend", when people mention themselves before others, I cringe, especially when it's a teenager or grown-up. It tells me that the parents haven't taught the child well. What a tragedy! Words matter, you see. The thoughts, the words we utter, come from our hearts. And according to the LORD, our hearts are inherently evil.

Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

And as the heart is, so are our words. 

Matthew 12:33 - 12:34
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

And therefore the tongue is evil.

James 3:7 - 3:8
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

This might be hard to swallow for some, but this is God's Word, not mine. The sooner we accept this truth, the easier it is for us to submit to the LORD, so that we may not defile ourselves and grieve the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 15:11 - 15:20
11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

There is a great deal of satisfaction when we refrain from swearing and cursing.

Proverbs 18:20
“A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.” 

What Can We Do About It?

First, we ask God for guidance, that His Holy Spirit will command our tongue... It's really that simple. Secondly, we bless the LORD, we worship Him. 

James 3:8 - 3:10
8 But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Third, we steer our thoughts away from wickedness and evil and think of good things. Turn off that TV, refuse to watch the movie that contains more swear words than the sailors' dictionary. Here are two verses worth memorizing by heart:

Philippians 4:8 - 4:9

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

When I read a social media post or an article, when I hear an interview sprinkled liberally with swear words, I shut them up; I turn them off; I refuse to allow their garbage to enter my ears, my mind, my soul. Those people then have lost their credibility and their right to be heard by me. Notice the liberal mob and the unsaved? They're swearing and cursing, proclaiming evil, diminishing value instead of adding value? It's obvious who they serve.

The solution then is to be guided by the Spirit of God:

Galatians 5:25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Whom are you serving?

How to Pray

Lord, You are Spirit, dwell in me all the days of my life. Do not depart from me.
Lord, help me to tame my tongue, especially when I am upset.
Lord, remind me of Your goodness, as I command my soul to worship You.
Lord, let no evil thought enter my mind, let me banish all uncleanness from my spirit, so that Your Spirit is not grieved and turns away from me.
Lord, forgive me for the times I have cursed and cussed. May my tongue honor You in all Your ways.

Psalms 84
(To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.) How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
2 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

Spirit of God - Descend Upon My Heart

1.    Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;    
wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;    
stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,    
and make me love thee as I ought to love. 

2.    I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,    
no sudden rending of the veil of clay,    
no angel visitant, no opening skies;    
but take the dimness of my soul away.

In Jesus' name
Amen

#Devotional #Scripture4TheDay #EvilTongue #EvilHeart #TamedTongue #SpiritOfGod #cussing #swearing

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