"Just Shut Your Mouth"
Posted: Thursday, September 04, 2008
by Deborah Hall-Branch
Fruit of the Spirit Ministry
I grew up spending pretty much of my winters in
As I slowly came back to my senses and realized what I'd said, I began to move away from her arms reach. It did me no good. I believe God created within them some sort of tracking devise that found you no matter where you hid.
Nevertheless, while appeasing my painful bottom after being located, what I discovered was although Blair had its own distinct dialect it couldn't cover up the hurtful words spoken from ones true heart. They still could be distinguished from those of compassion expressed from the smallest member of our human body, the unrestrained tongue.
Just before relocating to
Later on in the evening after ordering their dessert and coffee, they entwined into a more serious conversation. From what I could overhear, the young woman had become annoyed with a previous male friend of hers. For at least twenty minutes, she spoke of the man's flaws and in between time related them to her date who we later found out to be the "new" fiancée.
Without paying any attention to her words she'd chosen to use, she simply kept repeating, "Well, he reminds me of you, uncaring." Wrapped up in her verbal escapades, she never noticed that his facial expression changed at least several times. Through his demeanor you could tell his self-esteem sunk lower and lower as she continued the phrase. He went from sitting with assurance to a sudden lack of confidence. Before long, his self-respect laid injured across their table.
As I sat there trying hard not to be so obvious, his painful affliction began to bounce from him to me. I could feel her bruising words piercing through his heart. However observing closer, I noticed what she said didn't seem to be strange to him. So, in my own mind I concluded he'd heard those true hearted opinions before. Nonetheless, you could see her words ran deep within.
Each time the wounded young man glanced over at our table, embarrassed, I quickly turned away, but it's hard to ignore a rescue when God is drawing your attention to it. Before long, an urgency to pray for them both began to cultivate within me. I heard myself quietly say, "Father, heal they're wounded hearts." My business partner and I had no clue as to why the young woman used the dialect she did, but visible evidence showed they'd both suffered with deteriorations in their wounded hearts.
Finally, the young man sat back in his chair, exhaled, then reached for her hand. Holding it ever so gently, clearing his throat he said, "Why do you compare me to him. I'll never hurt you?" "I love you too much." As though in regret, she bowed her head. Shortly after, the young woman glanced back up again at her fiancée with tear filled eyes. It seems she'd allowed the wounds from her previous relationship to hold her heart in captivity.
It's a known factor that wounded people can wound. "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, Luke 6:45." Most times when we've been hurt we automatically want to hurt someone else. Then justify it with a cause. The struggling uncompassionate desire to see others hurt in agony brings a false sense of retribution which leaves behind a long trail of innocent victims.
Whoever came up with the old saying, "sticks and stones will never hurt" were wrong. Unhealed wounds are like lava. They harden in the cavity walls of our hearts causing one to lose the joy of even wanting to live (Job 3:3). Once they're spoken, our suppressed fluent issues hurt others no matter what language they're spoken in.
The book of James (chapter three) talks about the tongue and its evilness. How our speech springs from the inward character. In order for the tongue to be tamed, we must allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse our hearts.
Consider this factor, Christ was severely criticized, and bitterly resented. Many even showed their hatred for Him openly, but He remained faultless. Have we stopped before a heated conversation begins to ask, "What should my reaction be?" Most of us don't, but Christ never responded out of His wounds, not even on the cross.
Part of my daily prayer is, "Father, set a watch before my mouth and keep the doors of my lips…" I, like the Apostle James knows the tongue is hard to control on our own. It's easy for one to say "just turn the other cheek" until the slap actually happens. Most often a reaction to an action will take place.
How many people are we really controlled by? If we react the way others act, then we're controlled by them. We must draw strength from Christ that our reactions can be changed through Him alone. Philippians 4:13, says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
No matter what nationality we come from, or native tongue we've learned, let's practice daily to consider it's the "soft answer which turns away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1). Christ can strengthen us to have the right reactions to whatever we face. And, if we confess those negative ones-He's faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (
Excellent Deborah,A few of my friends were recently talking about the book of James and how words can make or break a person. It is so important to be uplifting and it we can't 'keep our mouths shut!'Hugs and blessingsHi Michelle,Sorry it took me so long to respond to your comment. They mean a lot to me. My agent and I are currently working on revisions for my very first manuscript preparing it for publication and that can take all of your time. However, I pray my articles will just as great a blessing to others as they have been to me. Quoting one of the greatest country western singers, Kenny Rogers, "We have to know when to hold them (our words). Know when to fold them (personal ridicules), and know when to walk (submit our wills) away.Hugs and blessings back to you also
Hi Deborah, This is awesome! What took you so long to join SW :-)Thank you for the reminder of the importance of complete healing and learning to tame our tongue with the power and strength of the Holy Spirit.Love and hugs, TeresaThe book. It demanded just about all of my time. I'm in the middle of exhales now while they're reading the revisions, so here I am on SW, and I love it.Thank you again for referring me.Deborah
Wonderful article, Deborah. Well-written and full of true sentiment. It takes so little, but can do so much to just say a simple prayer for others around us.God bless you and yours,Sandra
Hi Deborah,I truly enjoyed your article on the tongue. It is one of the area's I am trying to master, with the help of the Lord. Your writings are really a blessing to me. Keep up the good work.Your old friend from PhillyCarolynCarolyn, what a pleasant surprise! I'm so glad you read the articles, most of all that they blessed you. I've been working so hard on the book, every once in a while God allows me to get one in there. Please pass the sight on to others. Seeing your signature meant a lot to me.
Deborah
