GOSSIP: to talk idly, esp. about the affairs of others; go about tattling.
Yesterday I had a revelation from God about the wonders God would do if I would just let go. One of the areas was GOSSIP! I am sooo good at it too. Some sick satisfaction I get from it, I do. I guess deep down I feel not only vindicated but extremely gratified that I told about how betrayed I was or hurt THEY MADE ME FEEL! Heheheeh...
But God was very clear that doing so was a form of manipulation and control. If the tables turned and things started to look different in said situation, I could possibly steal the glory from my Lord and take credit, believing that it was something I said that changed the outcome. It is a total and complete lack of trust in my Lord. He promises to bring things to completion on my behalf in EVERY way (Philippians 1:6)! Me going about gossipping is like me saying to God that I don't think He is truly going to do so, therefore I might as well give my 2 cents.
I share this with you because I truly believe that if I refrain from it, except maybe sharing with my counselor, etc...I truly believe God is going to show up in a BIG way. I am not saying that this is the end all and if I just do this God will restore everything in a snap and all will be hunky dory. That requires a life's journey to transformation in God's word and a consistent conscious decision to bend to His will. But I do believe that during that journey God will go above and beyond if we truly obey Him. God hates gossipers. I got convicted of it and confessed. This is a new journey for me, but I am willing to take it on. Truth is...If I am not faithful with the little things God has brought to the light, then I will most certainly not be faithful to change the bigger things. And how could God use a disobedient child? Anywho, here are some scriptures to back up my conviction. If the shoe fits...wear it and join me! I truly pray that you read these scriptures, it has done me great! My prayer is to receive this word and let it soak into me that I may reflect the true image of Christ, so that I may be a testimony of "HIS POWER, HIS LOVE and HIS WAY OF LIFE, that I may do HIS WILL always!" (The Big Book)
Love you all!
Proverbs 31:27
She (he) looks well to how things go in her (his) household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she (he) will not eat.
2 Corinthians 12:20
For I am afraid that when I come I won't like what I find, and you won't like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
1 Timothy 3:11
The women likewise, must be worthy of respect and serious, not gossipers, but temperate and self-controlled, thoroughly trustworthy in all things.
Psalm 15:1-3
Who may worship in your sanctuary Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
Proverbs 11:13
A Gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.
Proverbs 16:28
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.
Proverbs 17:4
Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.
Proverbs 20:19
A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don't hang around with chatterers.
Proverbs 25:9-10
When arguing with your neighbor, don't betray another person's secret. Others may accuse you of gossip, and you may never regain your good reputation.
Proverbs 25:23
As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
Proverbs 2:20
Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
Romans 1:29
Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.
Hallelujah to the Lamb of God!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
True Wisdom
"Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom..."
Psalm 111:10 (NLT)
According to Dictionary.com, wisdom is "the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgement as to action, discernment, or insight." So basically, wisdom is the pathway to truth and making right choices based on that truth. Not only is this a necessary element for sobriety but it is also a necessary element for living a life of blessing. The question is, how do I acquire such a God-given gift?
Psalm 111:10 and many other scriptures in the bible (e.g. Job 28:28, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 15:33, Micah 6:9, Acts 9:31) say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, or Yir'ah, as written in the original Hebrew text. When speaking of God, yir'ah means reverence, piety or respect. A San Antonio Pastor once said it clearly, "the fear of the Lord is a reverence for God that produces obedience." Simply said, if I respect the Lord enough to obey His word I will "grow in wisdom."
In my early days of sobriety I just had to keep it simple. Just do the next right thing. This meant discovering ways to follow the Lord's command enough that, because of the promise in Psalm 111:10, I would eventually be catapulted into the most healthy cycle known to man, i.e. I would obey, (as much as I knew how), which would bless me with wisdom, which would bless me with more right choices or obedience, which would in turn, bless me with more wisdom and on and on. I knew that I just had to begin somewhere.
The following paragraphs are simply my own experience. Surely there are many examples, other than the ones listed here, that exemplify how to fear the Lord. These just happen to be the ones that grew me in wisdom.
First, I knew that I could not possibly know what the Lord commanded of me if I did not know what He said. Therefore, first and foremost on my list was to read the living and active word of God! Because it is living and active, I just trusted that reading it would bring me said wisdom. Besides, it says in Deuteronomy 31:12 (NLT) that one learns to fear the Lord by reading His book of instruction. So that's number one!
Secondly, I knew I had to tithe. Somehow I just knew that letting go of money that I didn't have was a true test of faith in God's provision. This notion was confirmed with Deuteronomy 14:22-23 (NLT). It says, "You must set aside a tithe of your crops-one tenth of all the crops you harvest each year...doing this will teach you to fear the Lord your God."
Thirdly, I had to serve the Lord in faithfulness and an undivided heart (2 Chronicles 19:9 NLT). Therefore, I began to be diligent, seeking the help and strength of the Holy Spirit, in doing away with the things that were contrary to the word of God. If that meant not gossiping, worrying, arguing or any other sin, then it was so. Matthew 6:24 clearly states that we cannot serve two masters. It shouldn't be done.
Fourthly, I knew that I had to be an example and teach others about the Word of God and to spread the good news of what God had done for me. 2 Chronicles 17:7-10 shows how the fear of the Lord was a direct result of all the changes Jehoshaphat made including going out among the people and teaching them the law. I am certainly not saying that we should all just start a bible study or our own church and begin teaching the masses. But we have opportunities in everyday life and in our recovery groups to share what God is showing us.
Lastly, although this is not much of an action step but more of an observation step, the miracle of God conquering my addictions and other defects of character is in and of itself enough to produce the fear of the Lord. Joshua 4:21-24 shows how battles won by our God in our own life and the lives of others are parts of the fabric of fearing the Lord our God. Therefore, I am more in tune today with God's work all around me ever reminding me of His greatness, hence producing a deeper reverence for Him.
My prayer is that these things be accomplished through rest in Him. Not through restlessness and struggle because we, out of our own power (PRIDE), are trying to accomplish these things. The worst thing for me is to find myself sinning in one area trying to get rid of sin in another. God's grace is surely enough!!!
Psalm 111:10 (NLT)
According to Dictionary.com, wisdom is "the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgement as to action, discernment, or insight." So basically, wisdom is the pathway to truth and making right choices based on that truth. Not only is this a necessary element for sobriety but it is also a necessary element for living a life of blessing. The question is, how do I acquire such a God-given gift?
Psalm 111:10 and many other scriptures in the bible (e.g. Job 28:28, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10, Proverbs 15:33, Micah 6:9, Acts 9:31) say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, or Yir'ah, as written in the original Hebrew text. When speaking of God, yir'ah means reverence, piety or respect. A San Antonio Pastor once said it clearly, "the fear of the Lord is a reverence for God that produces obedience." Simply said, if I respect the Lord enough to obey His word I will "grow in wisdom."
In my early days of sobriety I just had to keep it simple. Just do the next right thing. This meant discovering ways to follow the Lord's command enough that, because of the promise in Psalm 111:10, I would eventually be catapulted into the most healthy cycle known to man, i.e. I would obey, (as much as I knew how), which would bless me with wisdom, which would bless me with more right choices or obedience, which would in turn, bless me with more wisdom and on and on. I knew that I just had to begin somewhere.
The following paragraphs are simply my own experience. Surely there are many examples, other than the ones listed here, that exemplify how to fear the Lord. These just happen to be the ones that grew me in wisdom.
First, I knew that I could not possibly know what the Lord commanded of me if I did not know what He said. Therefore, first and foremost on my list was to read the living and active word of God! Because it is living and active, I just trusted that reading it would bring me said wisdom. Besides, it says in Deuteronomy 31:12 (NLT) that one learns to fear the Lord by reading His book of instruction. So that's number one!
Secondly, I knew I had to tithe. Somehow I just knew that letting go of money that I didn't have was a true test of faith in God's provision. This notion was confirmed with Deuteronomy 14:22-23 (NLT). It says, "You must set aside a tithe of your crops-one tenth of all the crops you harvest each year...doing this will teach you to fear the Lord your God."
Thirdly, I had to serve the Lord in faithfulness and an undivided heart (2 Chronicles 19:9 NLT). Therefore, I began to be diligent, seeking the help and strength of the Holy Spirit, in doing away with the things that were contrary to the word of God. If that meant not gossiping, worrying, arguing or any other sin, then it was so. Matthew 6:24 clearly states that we cannot serve two masters. It shouldn't be done.
Fourthly, I knew that I had to be an example and teach others about the Word of God and to spread the good news of what God had done for me. 2 Chronicles 17:7-10 shows how the fear of the Lord was a direct result of all the changes Jehoshaphat made including going out among the people and teaching them the law. I am certainly not saying that we should all just start a bible study or our own church and begin teaching the masses. But we have opportunities in everyday life and in our recovery groups to share what God is showing us.
Lastly, although this is not much of an action step but more of an observation step, the miracle of God conquering my addictions and other defects of character is in and of itself enough to produce the fear of the Lord. Joshua 4:21-24 shows how battles won by our God in our own life and the lives of others are parts of the fabric of fearing the Lord our God. Therefore, I am more in tune today with God's work all around me ever reminding me of His greatness, hence producing a deeper reverence for Him.
My prayer is that these things be accomplished through rest in Him. Not through restlessness and struggle because we, out of our own power (PRIDE), are trying to accomplish these things. The worst thing for me is to find myself sinning in one area trying to get rid of sin in another. God's grace is surely enough!!!
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