Dont Spew Fire

When we were on a little weekend trip a few weeks ago, I finished a book I was reading and I needed to pick up a new one.

We went into the book store in the mall and I found the perfect one for me. I tend to read Christian Self-help type books because well, that's just want I tend to need.

I showed my husband the book and he said not a word.....knowing I should probably read it. Its called Shut It Up by Karen Ehman. 

You can guess what it is about, right?

Buying this book meant that I really needed to work on my mouth and things that I might say. I tend to be an over sharer or just say things that are like a dagger (learned behavior for sure). 

When I read these type of books, I tend to have my bible right with me or I use my app on my phone. I read KJV only and so when there's bible texts that come up I read that version and sometimes I go ahead and write that text in the margin of the book. 

I came across a part that spoke to me and sharing that plus what I have learned, I hope will help you as well! 

"If we really want to learn to control our tongues, knowing what to say, when to say it and when to say nothing at all, we need to drill down deeper"

We really need to go into our hearts and minds to understand where our words are coming from, the ones that live life to another and the words that are honestly death blows of daggers. 

Luke 6:45 

A good man out of the treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and and evil man out of the even treasure of his hearth bringeth forth that which is evil;for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 

A mouth speaks what a heart stores.......

Change what you store in your heart and keep your heart safe.

I myself have done a very poor job of keeping my heart safe. Yes, my husband is to help guard my heart, but its ultimately my responsibility to do the same because no one but me responds to people or situations.

"The truth is, words are never accidental. To be sure, there are times we utter careless words, but even then those words are first formed in our minds, filtered in our hearts and then given permission to come out of our lips."

Proverbs 10:12.13

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. in the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 

This reminds me of a bible verse that I got in a card for my 17th birthday when I was in Russia on a mission trip.  A family that really took to me, gave me a card that had Proverbs 4:23 inside it. I was young and didn't really understand why they would write it in there.

But now as I am older, I get it. 

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 

The verse says to keep thy heart with all diligence. What does diligence mean?

Diligence: Careful and persistent work or effort.

To me, this means we have to constantly be working on being careful with our heart. 

For out of it are the issues of life.

We all have issues going on in our life. We all have people that irritate us and make us mad or upset. You might have a work place that is just not the best place. There just might be situations out of our hands. I am going to be the first to say that maybe I don't handle those situations the way that I am suppose to. I am not protecting my heart how I need to, therefore, words spew out of my mouth like fire! 

How can this change?

We HAVE to change our way of thinking, it is 100% connected to our hearts. 

2 Corinthians 6:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ; he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Something that I am personally working on, is just spending more time in Gods word. I know its not done enough but when I am digging in Gods word, I find things that I need to read and it settles in my heart and my mind.

There are times when I am not spending time with God like I should, and my attitude just goes sour and those word daggers come out. We have to be intentional about spending time with God. Even if that means finding a spot and just praying and talking with God.

I have a place that I go and when I go into that spot, I feel like I can just talk with God, with out others hearing. It does something to my heart.  I come out, feeling refreshed and ready to face those issues of life that Proverbs 4:23 talked about. 

I pray that you do the same as me, to ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom. Wisdom in keeping quiet when that is best or to give you the right words to say when you cant seem to find them.