Caribbean Moravian Devotions

There is always so much in life that we could complain about. Though there are many things that are going right, we can also identify as many things that are wrong. We can quickly testify about the many ways in which we have been blessed. But at the same time we can also. But at the same time we can lay out a litany of problems and challenges that lie before us. So the same tongue which can SPEAK ABOUT whatÂ’s good and rejoice over it can also SPEAK ABOUT the hurdles and mountains that are before them. We can choose either to murmur or complain about what needs fixing or give God praise for all of GodÂ’s goodness, kindness and faithfulness. As we come to the end of the first month of 2014, I challenge us all not to let the challenges before us to determine what how we SPEAK. That means rather than SPEAKING ABOUT the hurdle or mountain before you, SPEAK TO it. Our FF for today then is SPEAK TO, NOT ABOUT!

It is so easy for us to underestimate the power of the tongue. Though it is a small part of the body, the Bible refers to the tongue as having a split personality. James says, “Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.” (James 3: 9) Plus the Bible also warns us that this little muscle called the tongue based on how we SPEAK “can bring death or life..” (Prov. 18: 21) So we must be careful ABOUT how we SPEAK and what we SPEAK. There is power in our tongue. In the same epistle of James he says that the same way that a rudder determines the direction of a ship, so does the tongue direct the course of our lives. This means then that what we SPEAK can potentially alter the events of our lives. When we SPEAK ABOUT we are directing our speech to others who though they can hear may not be in a position to do anything more. On the other hand, when we SPEAK TO, we are exercising our faith and acknowledging that we have the power within us to rise above the thing that we’re SPEAKING TO. The one who SPEAK TO maintains an authoritative posture over that which he/she is SPEAKING TO. That’s why when parents SPEAK TO their children it’s very different than when they SPEAK ABOUT them.

So then our challenge this year is to take authority over the things in our lives that we have allowed to take ungodly authority over us. With that attitude then we don’t just SPEAK ABOUT our problems, we SPEAK TO them. We don’t just SPEAK ABOUT our health troubles, we SPEAK TO them. We don’t throw our hands up in the air as we SPEAK ABOUT the ills in our society and community. Rather we are emboldened to SPEAK TO them. There’s never a shortage of issues, challenges and problems that occupy our minds and may even cause us to lose sleep as we stress over them day after day. Instead of SPEAKING ABOUT them, let faith arise in us and instead let us SPEAK TO these things. Jesus assured us of the power that is ours when we SPEAK TO, NOT ABOUT when he teaches us that “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.” (Mark 11:23) So today I encourage you that in your SPEAKING, decide that you will SPEAK TO more than you SPEAK ABOUT!

Mikie Roberts (Rev)
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http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus