The power in a tongue
Hey y'all,
I came across the article below as I was searching for ways to encourage myself in the word (believe me, I need it) and I wondered just how often do we realize some of the challenges we face in life is because of what we or others have said about us? I may need a daily reminder of how powerful words are. They can heal or kill, they can make or break, they can build or tear down, the list is endless. I hope you will be blessed by the article. It's copied and pasted as is, and retrieved from
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/overcoming-the-curse-of-words.html
The curse of words includes words spoken by others (or even by yourself) that are intended to inflict harm or damage, to belittle you, or to wish you evil.
What are the words that have been spoken to you that have wounded or “cursed” you, undeservedly? “You're so clumsy...You'll never amount to anything...You'll never change...You're going to be just like your mother...You'll never find anyone to love you...I wish you were dead...I wish you'd never been born...You always...You never...” etc.
How to Overcome or Break Free from the Curse of Words in Your Life
1. Realize [remember] the blessing of God.
No one can curse you apart from God's permission (Num. 22:12, 38; 23:8, 20, 23). If you are a child of God, you are blessed, in spite of (or regardless of) what others do to you. The blessing of God is more powerful than any human curse. Through the cross of Christ, God has made provision to set you free from every curse. No curse of words has to control your life any longer.
God protects and vindicates the righteous. Those who live godly lives do not have to worry about curses coming to rest upon them.
2. Review the curse.
What is the source of the words? As you review the words others have said to you in light of the Word of God, ask: “Is this true? Does it agree with what God says?”
3. Reject any words that are not true.
Curses only have power over us if we believe them. If they're not true, they are powerless (Prov. 26:2). When we believe them, we invest power in them. Make a choice to reject words that do not line up with God's Word.
4. Renew your mind.
Children may not know the truth, but adults are responsible to learn the truth. Saturate your heart and mind with the Truth of God's Word (Phil. 4:8–9). Replace lies with Truth.
5. Receive God's blessing.
Even when you cannot “feel” God's blessing, you can receive it by faith. After you have received God's blessing, you are free to bless others (Jacob's example—Gen. 48-49).
6. Release those who have cursed you.
We release others through forgiveness. Forgiving others frees us to live victoriously in God's blessing.
7. Repent of any cursing you have done to others.
Christians' words should only be a source of blessing (James 3:8-11; 4:11). Speaking evil of believers is a characteristic of non-believers (1 Pet. 2:12; 3:16). Be careful about the impact of your words as a parent or with your spouse. Don't be careless with words. Refrain from jesting, teasing, criticisms, or constant “evaluations” that leave their mark. Don't make snap judgments or jump to conclusions—be “slow to speak”(James 1:19). Be careful how you speak to children in public. Be careful how you speak about parents (Prov. 30:11; 20:20), in-laws, pastors, employers, teachers, Christian workers and church members, friends and neighbors, even your “enemies.”
8. Refuse to return cursing for cursing.
Only return blessing for cursing (Rom. 12:14, 17-21). The biblical principle is you will reap what you sow (Gal. 6:7). If you bless others, you will be blessed. If you curse them, you will be cursed.
9. Resolve to speak blessing.
Speak blessings to others. Be proactive. Look for opportunities to bless, validate, and encourage. Speak blessings not only to others, but also about others. Give specific blessings—personal and appropriate (Gen. 48:1-3, 15-16; 49:28). Envision what God can do in others. Exercise faith on their behalf through a blessing that can transform their future (Heb. 11:20-21).
Don't just think it. Say it—now! Don't wait for the funeral. Although there are many everyday opportunities to bless, blessings are also appropriate on special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) Blessings are especially important for those under your leadership or authority. (Wives can encourage their husbands to see the value of blessing their children.)
Words of blessing cause growth, give hope, and bring healing. Blessings turn hearts toward the “Blesser”—our loving, just, and faithful God.
Words are powerful, and death and life are in the power of the tongue. When we curse, demean, diminish, or belittle with our words, we speak lies—Satan's language. When we speak the truth of God's Word into people's lives, we bless them.
The Message of Leadership Day 22
STOP. LOOK. LISTEN
Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last."
-Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Do you have a tendency to leap into situations without weighing them carefully? That can be a good thing if a person is lying on the side of the road, bleeding to death, and in need of immediate
assistance. However, being impulsive can be fatal if in your haste you are run over by oncoming traffic. Control your impulses and respond prudently.
The writer of Proverbs warns against being imprudent. A careful person will not be right in every decision he or she makes, but will not enter into any decision too lightly either. The prudent person understands that everything does not turn out the way it seems it will at first glance. So think your decisions through, especially the ones with wider implications.
President Jimmy Carter was proud to be known as a peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia. I first met him in 1994 and was impressed with how fit and alert he was for a man of his years. He was one of the most diligent and hardworking leaders we have ever had in the White House, but he has not always been known for his prudence. I well remember the high-stakes gamble he wagered in calling together the leaders of Egypt and Israel that resulted in the astounding success of the Camp David Accords.
But President Carter was also responsible for the daring, but failed, rescue attempt of the Iranian hostages in 1980, which resulted in a fiasco for the would-be rescuers. President Carter was not afraid
to take chances but they didn’t always result in success. The wise caution of Proverbs to exercise prudence is not mere peanuts—it could change the way people think about you—so be prudent.
Essential Insight 22: Weigh your decisions carefully. You can smear a lifetime of accomplishment with doubt in a moment of haste.
2nd YEAR CAME BY SO FAST
Who is your enemy?
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| self reflection |
Do you know your calling?
I read the devotional message below on the Bible app and felt the need to share this with you! The devotional is titled DISCERNING YOUR CALLING! Enjoy the message:
Passions
Throughout Scripture, God reveals three primary pointers on the road to discerning our calling: our passions, our giftings, and our opportunities to use the combination of those two to glorify God and serve others.
Have you ever wondered why God created the earth and humankind? He certainly didn’t need to. So in one sense, it appears that God created for the pure joy of creating. It’s impossible to read the creation account in Genesis 1 without imagining the thrill God must have had bringing the earth into being, flinging the stars into the sky, and turning the oceans loose. This truth points us to the first question on the road to discerning our calling: What are you passionate about? In other words, what work brings you unspeakable joy?
Isaiah 64:8 says that “We are the clay, and [God] our potter.” Through Scripture and human experience, we innately understand that God uses our passions to mold and shape who we are as individuals. One of the ways in which He molds us and helps us to discern our vocational calling is by designing us with unique passions, the things in life that bring us pure joy. Are you passionate about entrepreneurship, photography, music, arts, law, coffee, sales, or medicine? Those passions are from the Lord! As Psalm 139:13-14 reminds us, God is the one who knitted us together, passions and all.
But while discerning our calling requires that we first identify our passions, passion alone is not enough to make our chosen work a calling. If we stop with the passion question, we will have identified the work we are most eager to do, but we will not have found our calling. Why? Because our work can only be a calling if God calls us to it and we work for His glory and the service of others, rather than the service of self. How do we glorify God and serve others through our work? By choosing work that aligns our passions with the gifts God has given us, allowing us to do exceptional work.
Read more of this devotional on the Bible app.
What have you been passionate about your entire life?
Meet N Mingle August 18th
See you next Saturday at the @wateringhole_patio for our funfilled speed networking event. To book your spot in advance or get more info about the event call 0752487449 or 0655368988. Cover charge - 5,000! Save the date and don't miss the fun.
Photography
Styled by WendyWoo @WendyWoo_fashionstylist
Theme: A Bohemian inspired photo and video shoot.
Images by @gemineyeproductions
IT'S TIME
There is power within you
Wisdom
THE SNAKE AND THE SAW
A snake penetrated into a carpentry workshop. As it slipped, it passed over a saw and got slightly wounded. Suddenly, it turned and bit the saw, and biting the saw, the snake seriously got wounded in its mouth!
Then not understanding what was happening and thinking that the saw was attacking "him," it decided to roll around the saw to suffocate it with all its body by squeezing it with all its strength, but it ended up being killed by the saw!!!
Sometimes we react in anger to hurt those who have harmed us, but we realize later that after all we are hurting ourselves.
In life it is better sometimes to ignore situations, ignore people, ignore their behavior, their words.
Sometimes it is better not to react so as not to suffer consequences that can sometimes be deadly or harmful.
Do not let hate take over your life because love is stronger than anything.
Author unknown.
Uphill Habits
Enjoy watching these videos and I do hope they will bless you as much as they have blessed me. Cheers.
