I enjoy his straight forward approach and the issues he deals with seem to be my issues. Especially the tongue. Before I was saved I lived and operated in a world where a quick wit often was as important as anything else a young man might have. And I was rather proud of my ability to supply a quick and often cutting retort. In fact there are several times that my quick wittedness (is that a word?) and sarcasm produced an undesirable effect.
But Christ made an amazing difference in my life. He healed the hurt and pain that had produced most of the fire behind my sarcasm and replaced it with a love that only He can provide. In those early days I would find that I would slip from time to time and resort back to my old "habits" of the tongue, but my brother James was always there with the convicting power of the Holy Spirit to return me to a place of repentance and forgiveness.
As I have logged some miles in this wonderful journey called Christianity I notice from time to time a tendency slide back into sins of the tongue. Except now the temptation is to a much more vile and divisive sin, that of talking about a brother. My devotion today came from John Piper and was entitled "Talk to people rather than about them."
Man was it timely (God is amazing that way) and to the point.
Heavenly Father I seek you this morning. Forgive me of the things that I have thought as well as said that would harm others and dishonor You. I pray that my words will be honest and positive; that they will inspire, and challenge others to greatness. Show me how You want me to encourage others through my words today. Help me affirm someone close to me today, that they will be blessed and You will be glorified in Jesus' name.
Your servant, Rick
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