The Sound of Silence

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29)

There are 2 types of silence that are necessary in our Christian walks:  1. The silence (absence) of noise so that we can hear the Holy Spirit's voice; 2. The silence (absence) of anything that may come out of our mouths that does not produce edification of another.

1. The Silence of Noise:  Can you effectively listen while talking at the same time?  You may think you can, but you are definitely missing out on important information if your full attention is not devoted to the speaker.  Our faith is strengthened when we are still.  "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).  Be still so that you can know God (Psalm 46:10).  We make sacrifices and compromises every day when we are in relationship with people; we must apply the same formula to our relationship with God.  In Proverbs 9:13, we learn that, "The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge."  With silence, comes the voice of the Holy Spirit.  If we are still, we can learn discipline and wisdom, through the Holy Spirit's impartment.  These two qualities are vitally important in the character of a Christian.  Finally, get rid of the noise!  Fast from anything that is keeping you from spending time with God.  Be careful NOT to create your own noise.  "God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him" (Proverbs 28:9).

 

2. The Silence of the Tongue:  We've all heard the saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all."  This is actually a biblical principle!  From the overflow of our hearts, our mouths speak (Luke 6:45)!  This is another reason we need to be STILL.  Being still promotes faith, discernment and purification!  When we are pure, our hearts are pure, which means our words are pure!  Be careful what you say, because "death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits" (Proverbs 18:21). Proverbs 27:1 says, "Do not make a noise about tomorrow, for you are not certain what a day's outcome may be."  Our words carry tremendous power, and with anointing, can bring healing and peace.  However, without the blessing of the Lord, our words can bring death and chaos.  Certainly, death and chaos (the absence of peace) are not of God.  As Christians, we should aim to fulfill the command of 2 Timothy 2:16-17, which says the following:  "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene."  As believers in Christ, let us edify one another and avoid grieving the Holy Spirit.   

Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!


**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine.  For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com.  If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**

Get Your Mind INTO the GUTter

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely haste leads to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5)

Have you ever gotten yourself into a situation that you felt unsettled about, but did not have enough confidence in yourself to trust the warning signs?  Well, recently, I got myself into one of the biggest pickles of my life by ignoring a host of foreboding signs because I lacked confidence in my judgment and in the strength of God's voice within me.  Through this experience, I realized that discernment AND diligence must be cultivated in our lives daily so that we can know what our gut is telling us.  Discernment as defined by dictionary.com is:  acuteness of judgment and understanding.  Diligence as defined by dictionary.com is:  the degree of care and caution required by the circumstances of a person.

By pursuing God consistently and committing His Word[s] of wisdom to our memories and hearts, we are being transformed into His likeness daily (2 Corinthians 3:18), thus pursuing righteousness, ultimately leading to discernment and diligence.  God hears the prayers of the righteous (John 9:31)!  His clarity and peace surround the righteous!  After all, righteousness and peace kiss one another (Psalm 85:10).  When you are in God's Will, your spirit promotes confidence within your being.  Your spirit, your heart of hearts where Jesus lives, is where your gut feeling can be heard.  This is the place in which the Holy Spirit speaks into your life His will for your life.

TIPS TO STAY ON GUARD:
1. Your ability to employ discernment and diligence is an ability that should not be taken for granted.  Your ability can and will get rusty if you do not properly attend to it.
2. Also, if your spirit is telling you something, and you ignore it, be prepared to suffer the consequences as I am doing right now!  Although the consequences can be great, the consequence of not following the Holy Spirit's promptings are even greater. 

Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives :)


**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine.  For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com.  If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**



 

Pants on the Ground? Tighten your Bible belt!

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."  (Ephesians 6:13)

Let's get ready to RUMBLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  What am I talking about?  I'm talking about arming yourself against the enemy with the Armour of God!  Spiritual warfare is very REAL.  "Our struggle is...against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).  Have you ever tried to get to church on time and caught a train?  Or tried to get to church without having an argument with your spouse, but you just lost it?  Guys and gals, Sunday is the Lord's day, and you better believe that Satan is pulling out all the stops to try and get you to make decisions based on how you feel rather than what God's Word says to do!  But, it's not just on Sundays that the enemy and his demons are trying mightily to get the Lord's children to submit to confusion--it's every day!

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Ephesians 6:11)

Part of the scripture in Chapter 6 of Ephesians deals strictly with spiritual warfare, which is something we as Christians deal with on a daily basis, whether we realize it or not.  Do I want to go work out or do I want to stay on the sofa and watch TV?  Hmm, choosing self-discipline over laziness is not temporarily appealing, but it has long-term benefits!  So does learning the Word of God and following His instructions regarding the heavenly realm.  Why should we "wear" the belt of truth buckled around our waists?  Why should we "wear" a breastplate of righteousness?  Why should our feet be "fitted" with readiness that comes from peace?  Why should we "protect" ourselves with the shield of faith?  Why "wear" a helmet of salvation?  And why should we commit to our memory and hearts the Word of God?

1.  Truth:  If we hold to Jesus' teachings, "[we] will know the truth, and the truth will set [us] free" (John 8:32).  God's Word is truth (John 17:17).  When we are free, we are living in a state of "peace that transcends all understanding and are made privy to a guarded heart and mind in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).  We must guard our hearts, for it is the wellspring of life! (Proverbs 4:23).
2.  Righteousness:  In order to avoid confusion, we must strive for righteousness.  Psalm 85:10 says that "righteousness and peace kiss each other."  The very eyes of the Lord are focused on the righteous!  The Lord's ears are attentive to the prayers of a righteous man! (1 Peter 3:12).  In the latter part of Ephesians 6, we are implored to pray!  Let's be righteous, so the Lord will be focused on us and hear our cries!
3.  Readiness and Peace:  Can you wake up one morning and decide to run 4 miles without ever having trained in your life?  I'm guessing not.  Being prepared helps alleviate anxiety and confusion and promotes discernment and wisdom.  Every day is a gift from God; let us not waste it with idleness, which encourages gossip and nosiness (1 Timothy 5:13).  The Bible commands us to fix our eyes on all things noble.  His Word is the truth.  Knowing God's Word equips us with truth, which sets us free, and infuses us with peace!  The enemy cannot compete with God's peace.
4.  Faith:  We are to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  "To the faithful, [God] show[s] [Himself] faithful" (2 Samuel 22:26).  In Galatians 3:11, we learn that "the righteous will live by faith."  Basically, if you are pursuing righteousness already, then living by faith will fall into place.  Knowing God's Word and knowing your identity in Christ will increase your faith.
5.  Salvation:  Nothing I have written means anything if you are not born again in Christ Jesus.  Romans 10:13 says that if you call on the name of the Lord, you will be saved.  Once you are saved, all of the words on the pages in the Bible suddenly start to make sense--more so than ever before!  Your salvation is made possible by the grace of God.  You cannot earn it.  You just have to receive it.  When you value your salvation, you will begin to crave the Word of God so that you can be prepared to fight the powers of darkness that war against you daily.
6.  Word of God:  "The Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).  All the Holy Spirit needs is a minute portion of the heart to be softened, and the spirit can penetrate a person's life.  What better way to defeat Satan than planting seeds in a nonbeliever's life?  Let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives :) 

**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine.  For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com.  If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**

Mercy Mercy Me

Micah 6:8

"Mercy mercy me.  Things ain't what they used to be, no, no," Marvin Gaye once sang. Amen to that!  God has brought me so far in such a short amount of time.  God loves us the way we are, so much so, that He does not intend for us to stay that way!  Boy, do I love me some mercy :) However, notice that in conjunction with loving mercy, God commands us to act justly and walk humbly, as well.  That can be hard to do sometimes--a lot of times! But we can't expect to reap benefits without sowing some effort!  I like to say that God helps those who help themselves! For instance, you will reap the benefits of feeling better physically if you adjust your eating habits, exercise, drink water, have a regular sleeping schedule, go to the doctor when necessary, take your medicine/s as prescribed, etc.  If you do the same thing over and over again, but expect different results, you will surely go insane!  So, God guides His children by giving us 3 concise, simple to remember (notice I did not say simple to do) steps to achieve peace!  

1. How do we act justly?  Remain impartial and know that God is the ONLY judge.  He will "avenge the wrongs done to [us]" (1 Samuel 24:12).  Deuteronomy 32:43 says that, "he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people."  Romans 12:19 is my favorite verse concerning God's retribution for His children:  "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge: I will repay,' says the Lord." That makes me feel so loved, secure, and treasured.

2. What does it mean to "love mercy"?  It's a strange, very seldom heard mandate used in today's society.  Well, we know that God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).That means we are to accept His mercy, love, and forgiveness daily without feeling the need to produce works in exchange for his FREELY given gift that CANNOT be earned.  In today's world, everything seems to be give and take.  It's almost as if we have turned cold and selfish, feeling that we DESERVE things "just because".  I'm sorry to knock us off our soap boxes, but that just isn't the case.  The mere fact that Jesus died on the cross for us alone is enough to sustain us for the rest of our days on Earth.  Mercy is just a bonus!  So, be grateful and love mercy!  Don't ever be too proud to accept a gift from God, which leads me to my final point.

3. How do we walk humbly?  One way to start walking in humility is to meditate on the Word of God so that you can learn how to be more like Jesus.  God gives grace (another FREE gift) to the humble.  I don't know about you, but I really appreciate God's grace and mercy each day. Sometimes, these divine gifts are the only things that get me through the day.  Approaching God's throne of grace with a quiet confidence will provide us with grace and mercy to persevere and finish the race (Hebrews 4:16).  To approach any person of authority seeking grace and mercy, you must be walking in humility.  Pride brings forth disgrace, but humility brings forth wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).  The Bible says that the Lord knows the proud from afar (Psalm 138:6).  Great Scott!  That is a scary revelation! Instead, let's Devise2bWise all the days of our lives!

 "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

**All CAPS and bold emphasis are mine.  For those without a Gmail account, please submit comments or questions to lbeauwilliams@gmail.com.  If you have a Gmail account, please feel free to put comments on blog :)**