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"Whatever you direct your mind to think about will ultimately be revealed for everyone to see." (Tommy Newberry)

Our mouth, our words, our speech is a direct reflection – a mirror image - of what our heart is pondering. There is no faking it. Out of the overflow of the heart our mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Proverbs 23:7 says, "for as he thinks in his heart, so is he." I don’t know about you, but when my mouth speaks, I want people to be glad! I don’t want people to be afraid of what I may say! I do not want to poison others by my words. I want only to build up, to encourage, edifying with my words.

"Too often we think of being tempted as being enticed to do big things like stealing, murdering or committing adultery. But most often we’re tempted to be impatient, stingy, jealous, greedy or any number of other things that we consider lesser sins." (Joyce Meyer)

I was reading in Ephesians 4 yesterday, 4:29–32 to be specific. This whole chapter in my Bible is highlighted, underlined, has words circled, notes in the margins – it's one of my favorite passages in my Bible.

I was immediately convicted by Holy Spirit. I realized I had let my tongue get a little bit loose of late. Sometimes we are going through more struggle than others. For me, it almost always relates to the extremely busy ministry I oversee. Whoa, that's a scary thought, isn't it, to run a ministry and be struggling with a loose tongue? We have experienced a 35% increase in new clients since December, with little or no extra funds and in fact, with less paid help than before. Our ministry is continually dealing with life and death situations, people choosing between life for their preborn baby or abortion, so it's no light thing that we do. Always fighting the demons of death and murder, sexual immorality, greed, etc. but also always showing our clients love – no matter what choice they make, there is absolutely no room for the devil to get a foothold in our ministry.

It has been a struggle not to grow weary in doing good! But because of Galatians 6:9 I know I can take authority over that battle. It is a choice.

So I have been pondering all of this. I absolutely refuse to knowingly be in sin. Make no mistake about it, a loose tongue is sin. I was shown by Holy Spirit that I have allowed myself to be a little bit negative, a little bit judgmental, a little bit gossipy. Those things disgust me. And they also disgust God! Romans 1:29 lists gossip right alongside of murderers! It also says that every kind of wickedness accompanies it. And vs. 30 goes on to call them God-haters. 1 John 3 says if we hate our brother we are a murderer. There is no middle ground; there is only love or hate. Love believes the best – always. Love is never rude or unbecoming. It is unbecoming to speak anything but good about – or to - anyone.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.

Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).

Using the "law of first mention" it would clearly show here (vs. 30) that the number one way to offend or grieve Holy Spirit is with ungodly language, not just language of common curse words, but language that does not bless and encourage and build up others! Language that may be more commonly known as "gossip" or "sharp tongued". Ouch!

So, I sat there feeling Holy Spirit ask me, "With all the teaching, training and studying you have done in the Word, what do you remember about forgiveness?" I answered, "I have no place to judge. None. Please forgive me. And I wish blessing, not cursing for those who have cursed me. In fact, Holy Spirit, please do not hold any charge against them. Please heal them. Please do not let me be the reason for them to miss out on any of Father’s blessings! Amen."

I decided to study this passage some more for the next few weeks, along with 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. I refuse to allow myself to be a tool of the devil. I always have the option of what to fill my heart with. I repent of this sin and I turn from it and I will not allow the devil this foothold in my life.

"Clear waters flow from a pure spring." (John Paul Brownlow) Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter? (James 3:11, AMP) Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? (James 3:11, NIV)

That's why I will be meditating on those particular scriptures for the next few weeks, to once again have clear waters flowing from a pure river of life!

We are called to love. In fact, in the New Testament, it is a commandment. "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother (1 John 4:21)." Would most people looking at my life think I had anything but love in my heart? No, but I only care about what God thinks. And I know I have room for lots more love in my heart. I can only fill my heart with more of God's love by filling it with God's Word on love. The really great thing is, His Word is full of love! Truly, I do not have time for anything but love … God Is Love.

Let everything you do be done in love (true love to God and man as inspired by God's love for us). (1 Corinthians 16:14, AMP)

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last." (Charles Thomas Studd)

"A man has joy by the answer of his mouth." (Proverbs 15:23, KJV)

We must learn to fill our mouths with faith filled words. Don't talk about the circumstance - talk about the Word of God!

One final thought: "Before Jesus went to the masses, He went to the mountain." (The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado)