Speak your mind – James 3

Search for this complete devotional (Faith Works: a Study in James)

How does faith work when you want to speak your mind? 

“Loose lips sink ships.” During World War II, this slogan appeared on propaganda posters created and distributed by a major American distiller. The slogan advised servicemen and other American citizens to avoid careless talk about secure military information. Speaking openly about knowledge of a ship’s course might allow the enemy to intercept and destroy American naval ships.

Consider for a moment that, in the day that James warned us to consider our communication, there was no electricity, printing press, or internet. How much more ominous are his words in our day of cell phones, emails, texts, social media, platforms, comments sections, phone calls, videos, and the innumerable other ways we can curse others with our communication?

The Word of God is more timely than ever and careless and uncontrolled speech can bring much destruction unlike any other time in human history.

  • How many truths are twisted?
  • How many lies are told?
  • How many facts are buried?
  • How many news stories are fake?
  • How many classroom lectures are indoctrination?
  • How many ads are false claims?
  • How many juicy gossip stories are myths?
  • How many social media platforms are throttling good and promoting evil?
  • How many politicians know they are spinning facts rather than serving the Father?
  • How many lawyers generate income by doing what Paul called suppressing the truth?
  • How many PR firms are violating the commands against lying and false witness in favor of building and defending a narrative?

In our world of click-bait and ad revenue cashing in on the emotions of anger and fear, loving God with all our tongue is like fighting gravity.

James’ point is that the communication that comes out of us starts deep in us.  Like a bullet that is fired, or fire that is started, once a word is spoken, we can’t take it back. While we may not attack someone with our fists, our words can still cause major damage even from far away. Our tongue can speak blessing and cursing, life and death. Jesus tells us our mouth speaks about what ultimately fills our heart (Luke 6:45). A haughty heart speaks evil, a holy heart speaks life. Like water that comes from a spring, Jesus was clear that the words we communicate flow from our hearts and expose our deepest selves.

For our words to change, our heart must first change. Only the Holy Spirit has the power to change who we are and what we communicate. Things are so bad it will take a miracle to accomplish these twin tasks. Thankfully, our God specializes in miracles.

In my own failures in this area, one thing I have noticed is that my first response when I am angry, hurt, frustrated, tired, or offended is in the flesh. If I respond quickly, that response is often not the most godly. If I wait, pray, process, journal, go for a walk, and invite the Holy Spirit to change what’s going on inside of me, I find that something very different comes out of me.

Recall a recent instance where your tongue was not tamed. How did it corrupt your whole body and the course of your life (James 3:6)? After reading this section of James, how do you better understand the importance of your tongue and the words you use? Who can you apologize to, own your failures, and invite the Holy Spirit to change how you speak to or about them?

Why Devotionals

Walking and Growing Daily

I cannot put into words how one’s life will change if you discipline yourself to study the Bible consistently.

I say consistently, not perfectly.

I have tried numerous ways to be consistent with my reading. And for a long time I was frustrated because I wanted to be consistent but couldn’t find the right “formula”. I DID NOT GIVE UP though – I kept trying until I found something that works for me.

I encourage you to keep trying until you find something that works for YOU.

For me it is the Bible App for my phone. Don’t get me wrong, I love my physical Bible, LOVE it. To supplement that, and what helps me be consistent, I found daily devotionals on the Bible App. Using this tool helps me be consistent.

This page represents a collection of devotionals that really hit home for me – come back often to see what’s new!

Find a “formula” that helps you build consistency and don’t stop looking until you do!

A word about this material

I have to give credit to one of the pastors of my Church (Victory Family Church) – Pastor Sean Moore.

In a recent sermon, Sean gave a perspective on supplemental Bible reading. Here it is in a nutshell:

Many Christians have a disciplined devotional life – meaning they are consistent

If you seek God, He meets you and if you are seeking wisdom…He gives it FREELY

When someone puts in the work to study the Bible and writes down the wisdom God gives them, it is the HARVEST for their work

In that harvest, are seeds from God’s word and when we put in the work to study that material, those seeds will become OUR harvest!

AMAZING PERSPECTIVE – thanks Pastor Sean!

A Growing Collection of Scripture

Where do you turn when all seems lost? 

Here is an ever growing collection of my “go to scriptures“.

They cover a variety of life’s curve balls – I hope you find help through these just as I have over the years.

I am changing from the inside: Rom 12: 2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

God protects me: Ps 91:11

For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.

God strengthens me: Phil 4:11-14
Not that I speak in respect of want:

For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

God gives me peace: Phil 4:7

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God supplies for my need: Phil 4:19

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus

I am righteous because of Jesus: Rom 3:20-23
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

God wants more for me: Eph 3:20
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Fervent prayer has much power: Jam 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The Holy Spirit advocates for me: John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

The Holy Spirit gave me my own prayer language: Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance

The Holy Spirit helps me know what to pray: Rom 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

How to handle constructive criticism: Prv 25:11-12

Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

Trials: James 1:2, 4-5
[2] My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
[4] But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Diligence Produces Results

God wants you to bear fruit

In his second letter, Peter has some incredible insight into bearing fruit.

Spiritual fruit that is.

God wants all of His children to be productive and successful.

2 Peter 1:5-8

KJV

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NLT (New Living Translation)

5 In view of all this, make every effort [diligence] to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control [temperance], and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

________

These verses from Peter tell us that if we diligently seek after God (knowledge), add in temperance and godliness, we will be productive and useful.

Let’s look at the meaning of diligence, temperance and godliness.

Diligence

1 steady, earnest, and energetic effort : devoted and painstaking work and application to accomplish an undertaking

2 the attention and care legally expected or required of a person (such as a party to a contract)

Temperance

1 moderation in action, thought, or feeling : RESTRAINT

Godliness

1 the quality or practice of conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devoutness and moral uprightness

What does Jesus say about the laws of God?

Matthew 22 36-40

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

First, notice that Godliness is the practice of conforming…practice. This says to me that we will always be practicing…never perfect.

I have never known God to require anything of us that is very complicated. (difficult maybe, but complicated…no) He definitely knows that our puny mortal minds have limited capacity. So, to follow the laws of God – in a nutshell – Jesus lays it all out pretty plainly.

Once we commit to loving God with our whole heart, everything else we do in this life should be directed with loving others in mind. If an action or words from your mouth promotes love to others…go for it. If it does not…do not.

As I think about the various decisions I face every day I attempt to ask myself, does my choice honor God? …does it show love for my fellow man?

I really don’t think He meant for this to be too difficult to understand.

Godfather Wisdom

Here is the setup of the scene:

The Don (head of the mafia family Corleone’s) is retiring and passing wisdom on to his son, who is taking over.

“Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.”

In life, never lose sight of the fact that there are always going to be people out there that want to take advantage of you. That is how the world works.

Surround yourself with good Christian people – make it a priority. Those are the people you work with and commit to.

Keep your enemies closer? Translation: Keep a close eye out, and your spidey senses (Holy Spirit) sharpened for people, even those purporting to be Christian, who are not honest and are “wolves” looking to take advantage of sheep.

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.

Top Gun Wisdom

Here is the setup of the scene:

Maverick has just lost his REO and best friend in an aerial accident. He is so shaken up by the incident that he is not engaging in the dog fighting training – basically he is second guessing everything he is doing while flying – which could bleed over into combat in the future.

Viper, his wise commanding officer, is offering advice to help him get back on track and restore his confidence. Maverick needs to get over this, and quickly.

” The simple fact is you feel responsible for Goose and you have a confidence problem. Now I’m not gonna sit here and blow sunshine up your ass, Lieutenant. A good pilot is compelled to evaluate what’s happened, so he can apply what he’s learned.”

Same is true in life. We all do and say STUPID things. ALL of us can look back on many instances where we failed. Sometimes, we fail in a big way. However, a good man is compelled to evaluate how he has handled his failures so he can apply what he has learned.

Proverbs 16:16

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!

You Can’t Get the “Super”natural without the “natural”

God’s word is full of power and authority. But, it is not a magic book of spells.

When you read the Bible, consistently, with an open heart and ask God and Holy Spirit to teach you, you will find amazing things are available to you.

For instance Heb 11:1 says

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

There has to be evidence of faith, from YOU, which can only come from your thoughts, words and actions. You have to add the natural to get the supernatural.

What is the evidence we are talking about? What thoughts, words and actions constitute this evidence?

Rom 10:17 says

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God

You must take action to hear the Word of God. Want to build your faith? Develop a consistent habit of reading and speaking God’s word. You need the natural if you want the supernatural.

And, the ultimate example of natural/supernatural, Rom 10:9

if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved

You need the natural to experience the supernatural.

Other Rules to Know

When you need help, ask (borrowed from Gibbs’ rule # 28)

Sometimes, you need help.

You will be amazed at what combining the following nuggets will do for you

  • The main thing
  • Rule #1
  • When you need help ask

What would you do if someone asked you nicely for help? Probably help them and you would feel good about that. Wellll?

If you feel like you are being played, you probably are (borrowed from Gibbs’ rule #36)

This is applicable anywhere. At work, in a relationship, on the subway, etc.  If it feels like someone is being dishonest with you, you are probably being prompted by Holy Spirit. Pay attention to that still small voice.

Never accept an apology from somebody who just sucker-punched you (borrowed from Gibbs” rule #42)

Would you trust someone who tried to hurt you? NO!

Forgive, yes. When you forgive that sets YOU free, not them.

Trust is earned.

Learn to get really good at setting healthy boundaries.

First things first, hide the women and children (borrowed from Gibbs’ rule #44)

As a man – it is YOUR responsibility to do whatever it takes to protect the “women and children”.

First and foremost – your family – as well as those who are unable to defend themselves.

From Father to Son – guy code

  1. Never shake a man’s hand sitting down.
  2. Don’t enter a pool by the stairs.
  3. The man at the BBQ Grill is the closest thing to a king.
  4. In a negotiation, never make the first offer.
  5. Request the late check-out.
  6. When entrusted with a secret, keep it.
  7. Hold your heroes to a higher standard.
  8. Return a borrowed car with a full tank of gas.
  9. Play with passion or not at all…
  10. When shaking hands, grip firmly and look them in the eye.
  11. Don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be.
  12. If you need music on the beach, you’re missing the point.
  13. You marry the girl, you marry her family.
  14. Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath.
  15. Experience the serenity of traveling alone.
  16. Never be afraid to ask out the best looking girl in the room.
  17. Never turn down a breath mint.
  18. A sport coat is worth 1000 words.
  19. Try writing your own eulogy. Never stop revising.
  20. Thank a veteran. Then make it up to him.
  21. Eat lunch with the new kid.
  22. After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it.
  23. Ask your mom to play. She won’t let you win.
  24. Manners maketh the man.
  25. Give credit. Take the blame.
  26. Stand up to Bullies. Protect those bullied.
  27. Write down your dreams.
  28. Always protect your siblings (and teammates).
  29. Be confident and humble at the same time.
  30. Call and visit your parents often. They miss you.

When you decide to walk away, don’t look back

(borrowed from Gibbs’ rule #9)

I love this one because it can be applied in so many cases.

When you leave a job to pursue a new challenge – don’t look back.

When you end a relationship – don’t look back.

When you buy a car – don’t look back.

When you buy a house – don’t look back.