Power of Words

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.



James 3:17



Dear Lord, help me to be courteous and loving towards others today. Amen.



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This whole chapter is a lovely reminder – me especially – lately God is revealing all the times I have said something that just didn’t come out the way I intended. And the last thing I want to do is offend my family, friends or spectators. I have become focused on developing relationships, and not balancing the rest of my life very well. Granted, this is something that I have always struggled with. I am “task oriented” which is why projects are usually accomplished quickly, because I can narrow my sights to just this task, the daily stuff gets pushed aside to be dealt with later. During this process I see my boys vying for my attention, and as a result I am irritated by them because they interrupt a fascinating conversation, Bible study, prayer time, or house work, or I get upset that the task is not progressing on schedule. [(God’s timing is perfect, and I know this, I have seen that God is faithful, and the results are so much better if I just wait on Him!!) OK – that is another Morning Truth!!]



Abba, You are the One I turn to, the One I trust, please help me to build and cultivate my relationship with those beautiful boys You have blessed me with. God I know that I have not been doing a very good job of loving them well, treating them like You treat me, or speaking with them in love. I have stumbled and fallen short of building them up. God, help me and teach me to balance this life better, I want to bring You honor and glory with everything I say and do. In Jesus Holy Name. Amen.

James 3
Taming the Tongue
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.