My Destructive Weapon

I have discovered that I possess an extremely dangerous weapon.
This weapon has the power to:

• Torture people without struggle
• Leave permanent scars
• Brainwash those I seek to control
• Injure large groups of people in a matter of seconds
• Isolate and devalue groups that are different from myself

This weapon tends to be most disasterous for the people that I love the most. My Family. Friends. Boyfriend. I can even bring severe pain to the Almighty God with this weapon. It can alter my own brain and affects the way I think and act. I paid nothing to get this weapon and  the more I use it destructively the more the weapon is self-fueled. This weapon is my tongue. 

James 3:4-6 "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. Likewise, 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. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

Wow– my tongue can set an entire forest on fire! I can point out physical scars on my body from different accidents in my life- even accidents caused by other people- but the most painful scars cannot be seen at all, because they came from people's words. 
I am currently going through a devotional study called "Lord, Change My Attitude" by James MacDonald. It starts out by identifying what a complaining attitude looks like and how destructive it is, not just for the one complaining, but for others and even God. I never thought of myself as a complainer, but God has been bringing light to these areas of my life that I became so used to I couldn't even see them. It has been good conviction. 

Psalm 141:3 "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!"- I need high level security to guard my mouth! That is how dangerous it can be.

Proverbs 18:2 "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion"– Ouch, how often am I more concerned with people hearing my opinions then gaining real understanding? How often am I the fool?

James 1:26 " If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless"– people do not care how many times I read my Bible, go to church, or pray. If I am complaining, putting people down, being sarcastic…. then my religion is considered worthless. Yikes! 

James 3:10 "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." When I read this verse I imagine someone making a sandwhich, throwing up all over it, then offering it to God in worship. " Here God, I made this just for you!" I know that sounds really gross, but isn't that what we do when we use our mouth to praise God and also complain and curse? We are just throwing up- let out of our mouths nothing that is beneficial for anyone. Then we praise God, as if that cancels out the complaining. This should not be!

Here is a really great test to evaluate what you are saying. 
" Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29
Is what I am about to say going to build up those around me and also build up the person I am talking about? (it doesn't make it ok just because the person you are talking about isn't present- that is called gossip). Is what I am going to say taking into account their personal needs, meeting them where they are at? Is what I am going to say beneficial for ALL who are listening? 
What you say affects other people.

The theme verse for this week: "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 
I have a powerful weapon for destruction, but this weapon can also be transformed into a source of life. I can breathe life, encouragement, motivation and hope into people with my words. I can sing songs that are a sweet aroma of praise to God. Gratitude and thanksgiving is usually not a natural response, but I can practice and train these patterns of thinking and speaking. It starts with a change of perspective. I can trust that God will provide for my needs. What God has given me right now is enough! The more I choose to be thankful the more my eyes are opened to see God moving, even in the intricate details of my life. 

Qualifier- being thankful in all circumstances doesn't mean pretending to be happy all the time and denying that anything bad happens. You might not agree with me on this, but I don't think I am supposed to be thankful for all circumstances, instead I am supposed to be thankful in all circumstances. If I was diagnosed with a disease, I would not be thankful for that disease, but I could be thankful that God was using that disease to bring me closer to Him. I could be thankful for life, breath, food… Life itself is a blessing I am given every moment I am alive. It is a reason to be thankful EVERY moment. We can be real with God. He wants us to tell him our heart. We can never shock God. He already knows what we are thinking. Even with God, if I stop at just airing own opinions then I am the fool proverbs 18 talks about. When I choose to thank God and choose to trust that He will work out all things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28) then I gain a new perspective. The same way a runner must train their muscles and build up their cardio vascular endurance, I must also train an attitude of gratitude.   

"It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich" -Dietrich Bonhoeffer