Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth? Num 23:12

Are we careful on the words what we speak? Do you lie, the word says; “God said that he hates a lying tongue” Pro. 6:17. Do you flatter (flattering tongue) others to make them feel good; the word says “their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue." Ps 5:9. Do you tell great things (proud tongue) about yourself Ps 12:3-4 says, "The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things. Or do you speak (rash tongue) non stop  Ecc 5:2 says, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter any thing before God”.

Are you guilty of speaking too swiftly (swift tongue) when you really need to wait before saying anything. Pro 18:13: "He that answers a matter before hearing it, it is folly and shame unto him." Do you speak ill (backbiting tongue) of others; Beware of the backbiters, especially the ones who sow discord among brethren (Pro. 6:19)! Do you speak to hurt (piercing tongue) others? Pro 12:18 "There is that speaks like the piercings of a sword. Remember Pro 10:19 “Sin is unavoidable when there is much talk, but whoever seals his lips is wise.”

So let us listen more and speak less. And when we speak let us speak under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let our tongue edify others. Let our words bring glory to God always. In the book ‘Search of 12 apostles’, it is written, angels in heaven used to wait for Barnabas to pray, and He used to pray 100 times a day. Is heaven waiting to hear us speak? Word says our words have power of life and death. Now on let us give life.

Prayer: Lord, stop me from speaking when I bring dishonour you. Like Ezekiel said, let my tongue, stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not speak what you want to speak. Lord, put words in my mouth that I will speak your words. Amen.

Word: “.. for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7b

Thought: Many a times we tend to gauge ourselves and also judge others by the actions and words, but God is the only one who knows the intentions and thought and the heart behind the action and words. We do pretend and become hypocrites at times – we can easily fool people around us and probably the church, but we cannot fool God who searches a man by his heart. Though in most times it is abundance of the heart out of which actions and words flow, this may not always be the case. Let us looks at 2 things this morning: 1. Gauging ourselves 2. Judging  Others. When we do things, we should always ensure we do it from the heart and not grudgingly for it  will not benefit us nor anyone. Do we do it the ‘Christian way’ because of our love of Jesus or because the world is seeing us? Let us examine ourselves – anything and everything we do let it be because of our love of the Lord and not to impress anyone. Interestingly we sometimes tend to impress God by our actions and words, but remember God sees the heart and he would appreciate a small deed from the heart rather than a big one from the hand. Also we should be ready for what the Lord provides for us and not conceive that this is my strength and this is what is good. When it comes to others, we often easily judge people by the appearance and based on the way they speak – while it is good to discern, let us not judge. Ask the Lord for guidance – this might be for your spouse, when you interview a candidate for job, to work along with you in ministry or even for a friend for God sees the heart of the other person and will be able to guide us. Also, we only tend to see the action of the other person as bad while the intention might be good. Let us not judge by the action and regret later. Let us see others as God sees them and do unto others remembering God is seeing our heart.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me love you with all my heart that I will be able to sees others like you do and do to others the way you would do. Amen.

Word: Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. Proverbs 10:12

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins”. 1  Peter 4:8.

Thought: The world has become so corrupt that love has also become corrupt.  As a christian, we are all expected to be rooted in love – as Jesus sums up all the commandments of the law into just 2: Love God and Love your neighbor. Paul considers love to be the greatest virtue, but here King Solomon mentions that ‘love covers all sins’ and Peter says ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’ – what does it mean? When we love God, we will be able to obey his commandments – we will not be able to sin. When we love people near us, we will not be able to sin against them – we will be able to forgive and forget and move on and be a testimony for God. On the other hand hatred would kindle strife which would bring in all sorts of sin and not glorify His name. We should always have that fervent love in us that even if someone sinned against us, we should be able to forgive them, because that is what the Lord has taught us to be, but continue to be a friend and not a foe. Let that mind in Christ Jesus be in us as well – What love shall we call it that while we were still sinners that He died for us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be an ambassador of your love that I might be able to overcome hatred with love. Amen.

Verse:…in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken … the Lord moved the heart …. Ezra 1:1

Story: Through Jeremiah the Lord had given a promise to the people of Judah who were taken into captivity by Babylonian kingdom. Promise was that they will come back free after 70 years and Lord will help them to build the temple of God. Babylonian empire was overthrown by the Persians, and for the promise of God to be fulfilled, Lord moved and heart of King Cyrus and he made a proclamation to all his kingdom that people of Israel could go back and start building the temple, as he was appointed by God for that purpose, also he gave a word that from the royal treasury they will provide the support too.

Lesson: 70 years in a foreign land as slaves, no possibility of the promise to be fulfilled. But Lord who promised is faithful to fulfill even if that needs a miracle. During the waiting time let us be like Daniel who held on to the promise. What are the promises that we received? If that requires the most powerful kings to pass a rule, yes Lord will make it happen. As one who promised is powerful to perform what He promised. One night; is all what it takes to move from troubles to triumphs, when the Lord moves.

Prayer: Father Lord, we are fully persuaded that the Lord who promised is powerful enough to fulfill the promises He gave. While waiting we will trust the word. Amen.

The LORD is my shepherd Ps 23:1

David probably wrote Psalm 23; shortly after he was anointed to be king while he still kept his father’s flocks in Bethlehem. Psalm 23 portrays God as a shepherd, feeding (verse 1) and leading (verse 3) his flock. The “rod and staff” (verse 4) are also the implements of a shepherd. Let us study the greatest confidence David has about his future in the Lord through this Psalm

Provider: I shall not want Ps 23:1b David knew Lord is the provider for future, that why he confessed Lord always makes way, leads, refreshes and guides.

Protector: I will fear no evil Ps 23:4 David knew in the toughest time Lord was the protector, that’s why he said Lord is with me and comforts me.

Peace: Surely your goodness and love will follow me Ps 23:6a David knew the truth that Lord’s children will not chase the peace but they will have peace that passes all understanding.

Presence: I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Ps 23:6b greatest assurance that a child of God has, we will always be in His presence and we will spend our eternity with Christ

Prayer: Lord, all I need is you, you alone are my protector. I need your presence always and fill me with your peace Lord. Amen.