Out of the Loop, In with the Word
Today’s Bible readings are from Proverbs 4 and James 1. These 2 chapters should be required reading, study, and meditation. A few things grabbed me by my collar this morning: how we need to pray for wisdom, to develop good judgment. We also learn that we should turn from evil.
‘Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. ‘
Proverbs 4:5,14-15
‘If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. ‘
James 1:5
I heard a guy once say that when you cuss, you are speaking in the same way demons do. That stuck with me. We sure don’t want to be aligned with the enemy in any way. As Christ followers, we need to be very careful in what we say. Proverbs 4:24 tells us, ‘Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.’ This reminds me that Scripture directly warns us about the power and danger of our words. The Bible makes it clear that our speech matters to God, so it is important to make sure our words honor Him.
‘Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. ‘
Proverbs 4:24‘Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
James 1:19-21
We need to be warriors, guard our hearts, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.
One practical way to guard our hearts is to start each day with prayer, asking God for wisdom and strength as we read and study God’s Word, and praying for insight and for our words to glorify Him. Find an accountability partner—someone who encourages you to stay on track and make good choices. Taking these steps can make it easier to protect our hearts and live out these truths.
‘Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. ‘
Proverbs 4:23 https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.4.23.NLT
‘Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.’
James 1:27 https://www.bible.com/bible/116/JAS.1.27.NLT
To stay on the narrow path, I felt compelled again today to be mindful of what I watch and listen to. It looks like I’m going to be out of the loop when someone asks me if I’ve watched the latest and greatest series and/or listened to the hottest new song. I need to git rid of all filth and evil in my life, corrupt speech saturates everything popular these days.