So much of life is made up of choices. I know that this is a simple fact that we’ve been taught since we were little, but have you ever taken a moment to reflect on what it means? We have the choice to say yes or no to situations. We have the choice to live positively or negatively. We have the choice to change lives or to live selfishly. We have the choice…
I’ve been realizing more and more on the world race about how my choices impact not only me, but practically everyone around me. If I wake up and choose that I am going to be selfish and lazy today, my choice is probably going to be apparent and negatively affect the people that I come in contact with. Have I been checking my choices today to make sure that they align with the Word of God? Have I been checking my thoughts, which lead to my actions, to assess whether they are thoughts that result in me making selfish or selfless decisions? Have I been completely honest with myself about why I make the choices that I make?
A lot of these questions and ideas may seem abstract, so let me explain. Here, at our ministry site this month, we have had the choice to daily choose to serve others or to serve self. I wake up every morning surrounded by 15 girls who desperately need love. I admit that there were days this month that I was just, plain tired, and I wanted to choose self over others. But, even if my flesh wants to rebel against what God calls me to, it’s all about the choice that I make for the day. Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether I’m going to choose in or out.
A sermon I listened to recently really helped me to depend on God rather than my flesh in making choices. My flesh is so weak; without the Holy Spirit, I would constantly look for ways to make myself comfortable and happy by the world’s standards. In this sermon, the pastor challenged his congregation to pray every morning saying, “God, help me wake up!” Even though I heard this sermon last month, this has really stuck with me. I need to wake up from my fleshly desires. I need to wake up from the slumber of complacency that the world is stuck in. I need to wake up to what God has for me. I need to wake up completely depending on Him to lead me in my choices.
Galations 6:9 Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
This leads me to the second part of the title of this blog: Words. What I’ve really learned this month, more so than in months prior, is that your words have so much weight. Honestly.
Every. Single. Word.
You have the power to speak life or death. You have the power to bless someone or curse them. Your words are powerful. I haven’t understood this completely until this month. We need to choose our words carefully. We need to speak with the tongue of the Holy Spirit. We have the choice to use our words lovingly. Why would we choose anything else?
Let me reiterate. Your words have so much weight. What you say matters. Even when you don’t realize it, your words are impacting the people around you. So, when you say something negative, complain, or don’t uplift the people around you, you are starting a chain reaction. Your words are acknowledged, and, if accepted by those listening, have now infected them. They will now start to take on this negative, complaining attitude because of your words and your choices. Is that really what you want to do? Is your goal, when you speak, to speak in a positive or negative light? Are you speaking to glorify the spirit or are you speaking to elevate the flesh?
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 12:18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
This is what has been on my heart. God has been showing me so much and changing me from the inside out. He is so good. He is so faithful. I am so unworthy, but he loves me anyways. And he calls me his princess. Wow.
