Today’s New Covenant nugget is from James 3:3-10 (TPT)
Horses have bits and bridles in their mouths so that we can control and guide their large body. And the same with mighty ships, though they are massive and driven by fierce winds, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder at the direction of the person at the helm. And so, the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries great power! Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze. And the tongue is a fire!
It [The tongue of a carnal person] can be compared to the sum total of wickedness and is the most dangerous part of our human body. It corrupts the entire body [of a person in the flesh] and is a hellish flame! It releases a fire that can burn throughout the course of human existence.
For every wild animal on earth including birds, creeping reptiles, and creatures of the sea and land have all been overpowered and tamed by humans, but the tongue [of a carnal, flesh driven individual] is not able to be tamed. It’s a fickle, unrestrained evil that spews out words full of toxic poison! We [Christians who walk in the flesh] use our tongue to praise God our Father and then turn around and curse a person who was made in His very image! Out of the same mouth we pour out words of praise one minute and curses the next. My brothers and sisters, this should never be!
The bible says that death and life is in the power of the tongue. What we say as well as what we allow people to say to us is very important. A minister friend of mine jokingly said, “heathen gossip, Christian’s share…” sad, but true. Someone meets you for coffee and then begins to ‘share’ things that are bothering them, or how hurt they are, or, what ‘so and so’ did to ‘so and so…’ they may even spiritualize it with, “I am just ‘sharing’ so you can pray!”
Whether it’s in person, on social media, on the phone, or via text… only speak life, and only listen to words of life!
How do you prevent others from ‘sharing’ words of death?
Firstly, ask the Holy Spirit to help you to avoid being ‘drawn in’ into negative, unedifying conversations… it is very easy to ‘find yourself’ participating in unedifying conversations. Be on the alert! Satan will try to bait you! Secondly, it is easy to discern the beginning of an unedifying conversation… the ‘sharer’ usually leans in, softens their voice, and then takes an intimate, serious position… then they set their ‘share’ up with words like, “I have something I feel that I need to share”. As you see this happening, get ready to lovingly interrupt… jump in midstream and say something like, “I don’t need to know the details, but I can tell that this is something that needs prayer.” Then, start praying… “Heavenly Father, you know the situation that my friend is dealing with, I release your anointing over that situation right now, in Jesus Name! I speak LIFE over my friend right now, and I thank You that You are working ALL things together for his/ her good right now, as we are praying… we let go of this now, and we get in faith, in Jesus Name!”
Pray until you feel the spirit of hurt, offence, gossip, or malice has lifted, and then change the subject! If the person asks why you did not let them share, then tell them that you do not want to get drawn in, and that you do not need to know the details to support their situation in prayer. If you do not interrupt the cycle of words of death, before you know it hundreds of people could all be ‘sharing’ the same corrupt words of death, and that is how forest fires start and spread.
In His amazing love, Nick
