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Managing our Mouths

Friday, July 21

Managing Our Mouths
By: Anna Williams


“You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”
-Colossians 3:7-10 NLT

I believe it was Mark Twain who once said: “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” And I confess, this has described me to a “T” when I have gone off the handle with anger instead of processing my thoughts first. One of my life-long pursuits has been learning how to submit my fiery temper to the Lord so that He can refine me. 

Our natural, human inclination is to be driven by our emotions and bash away when we feel hard-done-by. But, if we are children of God, we have more resources at our disposal than just natural instinct – we have the Holy Spirit. We don’t need to strike back in rage, insults, and profanity because we have the knowledge of our true value and purpose in Christ. It shouldn’t matter what the offending person thinks or says about us because our self-worth is not rooted in their opinion.

We can operate in honesty and integrity because we have the promise that God sees it all and works for the good of the righteous. He has proven himself trustworthy time and time again – both in the Bible and in our own lives.

And as the Apostle Paul says a little further down in this same chapter: “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

Join me today in meditating on these attributes and ask the Holy Spirit to help you develop them more into your life so they become your new go-to responses.

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