Orange Moon Cafe "By Thy Words"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe...

 

   "By Thy Words"

  

   The Psalmist and the Apostle Paul unite to reveal a vital truth regarding our walk with God and the peace of our hearts.

 

    "I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed" (Psalm 77:3).

    "God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son" (Romans 1:9).

 

    Paul reveals that service to God begins in the deepest essence of our spiritual being wherein the Holy Spirit lives and moves to motivate, guide, and empower godliness.  David, conversely, confesses to grumbling discontent and its dampening effect on the spirit.  I am reminded of something many of us have said when asked how we are doing.  "Well, can't complain.  And it wouldn't do any good if I did!"  This is true.  However, murmuring has a far more detrimental effect than simply impeding good.  Our complaints actually do much harm, hindering our capacity to access the internal presence and power of God.  What we say and how we say it matters far more than we often realize.  Solomon joins the consideration:

 

    "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).

 

   Not surprisingly, since we were originally created by one called "the Word," our utterances play a significant role in paving both blessed and destructive paths of our lives.  (John 1:1-3).  Little wonder that David prayed, "Set a watch, o Lord, before my mouth.  Keep the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3).  We live and die during our earthly lifetime according to how we talk about God, ourselves, others, blessings, troubles, and everyday events.  This is a hard truth to ponder regarding the current consideration of complaining (and really hard to write about!).  Doubtless we can all look back on too many times when we barged through "the door of my lips" and overwhelmed our spirit by murmuring discontent.  Too little praise, too much protest.  More to the point, too little life, too much death has resulted from my own experience of often allowing my tongue to utter words of destruction rather than benefit.

 

    Thankfully, the Word who made us speaks many words in Scripture about His merciful forgiveness and ongoing patience with His trusting children in Christ.  "The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy" (Psalm 145:8).  If, like me, you look back on too many occasions of complaint and an overwhelmed spirit, may I suggest that we look up to our Advocate in the Heavenlies, the Lord Jesus Christ who "ever liveth to make intercession for us" (Hebrews 7:25).  God forgives complaining for those who acknowledge their sin, and who mourn the consequences of failure to speak in a manner that fosters life rather than death.  Moreover, He promises grace for this day, the grace of a tongue empowered by the Holy Spirit to utter words that strengthen our hearts and the hearts of others.  May it be said of us, we gave thanks and praise, and our spirits served as a lamp for the redeeming light of God.

 

"By thy word thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

(Matthew 12:37)

 

Weekly Memory Verse

      I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.

(Psalm 77:11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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