Mike has been home for the last couple of days and yesterday afternoon he went off to the driving range to get some practice. It’s a good opportunity for me to leave an hour after him and walk the 45 minutes to the golf course to meet up with him. I need to try and walk more. While walking is certainly not a waste of time, being great exercise, there’s not much to do when I’m walking. I usually pray and think and day dream, but there’s not too much other multi-tasking going on. Yesterday, I decided to put on my headphones and load up Matthew from Chapter 9 and listen to the Bible while I walked. It was just so interesting hearing what I’d never noticed before. I listened to 10 chapters of Matthew, from Chapter 9 to Chapter 18.
There were a number of repetitions that I’d never seen in all my years of reading the Bible.
- ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners,” (Matthew 9:13 and 12:7)
- A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah,” (Matthew 12:39 & 16:4)
- “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,” (Matthew 16:9 & 18:18)
As I listened, I again felt the power of the Word of God. It is amazing and miraculous how words can have such power. The Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword. Only the Holy Spirit can affect such an immense amount of influence on the heart. It also reminded me of how vital it is that we think carefully about what we say.
From introvertspring.com
Matthew 12:36
“I tell you, on the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word they speak..”
We choose what we say. We can learn to control our tongue. We can keep our mouths shut. We can guard our thoughts, so that when they do become words, they are of better value to both ourselves and those around us. But it is a learning process.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
As a ‘talker’ I clearly have a long way to go.
It’s time to choose life. Choose it at every turn. Choose it in the good times and in the hard times. The Bible contains words of life. Memorise them and repeat them. Make it a habit. I don’t do it enough. I find myself not falling back on God enough. He is there waiting – I’m just not falling towards Him.
Yes! Yesterday’s walk was rich with value. I exercised my body and my spirit.
If you need direction or comfort, open the Bible, start with Matthew or John in the New Testament and absorb its life-bringing Words.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂