Feb 19 2022

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

The phrase "loose lips sink ships" became popular in the 1940s. During World War II, enemy spies took advantage of a soldier family's eagerness to proudly share the accomplishments of their son, husband, or father. These spies would become friends of the family, hoping to gain information by listening and taking note of what soldiers shared in their letters.

Although family members had no idea of what was taking place, many passed along information with details of secret missions. As a result, soldiers and sailors lost their lives.

How often do we cause trouble because of things we say? Sometimes we share secrets or gossip about others, say things we really don't mean, or use destructive speech to tear people down.

This afternoon's verse emphasizes that if we can rule our mouths, we can rule our lives. The problem is, we can't control our mouths without God's help, and we must be willing to give Him control of our speech.

Our words can help or hurt us and they can help or hurt other people as well. As the Proverb says, if we are loose with our speech, we will bring destruction. We need God's help to make us aware of what we say and be accountable for it.

God, I am so sorry for the times when I have had loose lips. When I speak without thinking, my words can cause pain and destruction. Remind me to allow you to guide my words every single day. Please be gracious to me and spare me the consequences of the bad things I have said in the past. I understand that once a word has left my mouth, I can't take it back. Let me release words that always glorify you. In Jesus' name, amen.

Feb 18 2022

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. :

One of the most challenging experiences we have in life is learning to forgive. Letting go of hurt feelings and pain that was inflicted by others is not easy. Sometimes holding onto a grudge may seem like a good idea, and we have no problem justifying it. The payoff, however, isn't worth it.

Unforgiveness robs us of our peace and is in opposition to God's attitude toward us.

So, how can we forgive? The answer is found through prayer and living a life that honors God. When we study scripture, we learn that prayer is a vertical relationship between our Heavenly Father and us. Forgiveness is the horizontal relationship between us and others.

And the benefits of forgiving others are countless.

First, God's peace will fill our hearts and minds. Without harboring bitterness, the Holy Spirit can move freely in our lives.

Next, when we forgive someone, it reminds us of how the Lord forgives us. In fact, as this afternoon's verse says, if we want to receive God's forgiveness, we must learn to forgive others. We can't hate our neighbor and love God at the same time. Hatred and love cannot coexist in our hearts.

It's as simple as this: If we want God to answer our prayers, we have to let go of hateful feelings and unforgiveness and allow Him to handle the difficult situations in our lives.

Dear Lord, today, I ask you to search my heart for any bitterness that lingers there. I know that it hinders my relationship with you. So help me make things right with those who have hurt me—even if that means letting go of feelings I've tried to justify. I want to glorify you with my life. In Jesus' name, amen.
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