Do we consider our thoughts and our words? Do we ponder our words before we speak them out? The Word of God states that what comes out of our mouth indicates what is in our hearts. We cannot just flippantly say, “I did not really mean it.” Would our thoughts and speech grieve the Holy Spirit? Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Our thoughts and speech reveal our actual condition. Do we rely on the Holy Spirit before we speak?
The power of the Holy Spirit must transform us. David, in this verse, is yielding himself to the Lord. Are we willing to surrender? Do we truly desire to be changed? Being a believer is more than just saying we believe in Jesus. We need to be transformed to become Christ-like in every area of our lives. We cannot just play church. Longfellow wrote and is worth pondering more than once.
Kind hearts are the gardens,
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the flowers,
Kind deeds are the fruits.
Take care of your garden,
And keep out the weeds;
Fill it up with sunshine,
Kind words and kind deeds.
Copyright @April 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
How important are people in our life? Do we take time for them, or are we only concerned about what is convenient for us? Sometimes, we do not want to be bothered or trouble ourselves with others' needs or desires. We live in a society of all about me; what is it that I want or desire, or what will benefit me. The world's ways are opposite of the Lord God's ways.
Are we the bearers of kindness, compassion, and love? Do we think of others and how we can be a blessing? It should be about what is best for all involved. Philippians 2:1-4 (NKJV) "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Are we looking out for the interest of others or only ourselves? What about our jobs? Whose interest are we concerned about on our job? What about at church or in a public setting? Are we being a light by our speech and actions?
Copyright @April 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Do we, as a believer's sometimes become self-righteous? Are we genuinely concerned about others' welfare and whether they have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior? Have we developed an attitude that some people's hearts are not salvageable? Do we believe some individuals are too corrupt? Have we lost perspective of the greatness of God? Have we forgotten that nothing is impossible to Him?
John 3:16 (AMP) "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life." God's gift of salvation is not just for a few. The Lord looks at humanity and does not want them to perish, so His love extends the gift of salvation to all. He desires that none should perish. He intends that we be delivered from the power of darkness.
II Peter 3:9 (AMP) "The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance." The Lord leaves as much time as possible for individuals to repent and come to Jesus. We need to pray for others, be light but also be willing to be that voice.
Copyright @April 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Our tongue is powerful. It can either bring harm and wound or bring help and healing. Are our words beneficial to ourselves and others? Proverbs 18:21 (AMP) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].” Are our positive and uplifting? We often suffer consequences by fruit of lips, the words that we speak. The Word of God says that in the multitude of words sin is not lacking. We need to be cautious with the words that we speak. In other words, we should consider what we are going to say and what kind of impact that our words may have.
We can do a great deal of good, or a great deal of hurt, both to ourselves and to other according to how we use our tongue. So, our speech has an impact both to bring death or bring life. Think of the destruction and harm that gossiping, harsh words, and backbiting do. Think of the verbal abuse many people suffer today.
When a farmer plants seeds, he knows that his harvest is dependent upon the seeds he plants. Our words bring a harvest also. It is easy, evil words tend to death; good words tend to life. Just as we need to guard our heart, we also need to guard our tongue. The Holy Spirit can help us with both. Someone once shared, “This past year, if someone had paid you ten dollars for every kind word you ever spoke about other people, and also collected five dollars for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?” Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us with our tongue.
Copyright @March 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Are our words and thoughts pleasing to the Lord all the time? Are we opening and willing to be cleansed thoroughly? Do we want our life to be acceptable every day? Are we willing to surrender all to the Lord, including our mouth (words) and heart (thoughts)? Our life is not just what we do but what we speak and the thoughts in our hearts. Are we willing to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is with us to help us with our thoughts, attitudes, actions, and speech.
Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart. Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” What we believe okay may not be acceptable to the Lord.
Longfellow wrote, “Kind hearts are the gardens, Kind thoughts are the roots, Kind words are the flowers, Kind deeds are the fruits. Take care of your garden and keep out the weeds; Fill it up with sunshine, Kind words, and kind deeds.”
Copyright @March 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Does the Holy Spirit need to treat our heart or perform heart surgery? Our words and actions reveal the condition of our heart. Luke 6:45 (NKJV) “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” What we say reveals what we are. Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Our heart contains our values. The contents of our heart are made manifest through our speech.
Fruit on a tree can be good or bad depending on the health of the tree. Is it being fertilized, does it have enough nutrients, water, and sunshine? Is the ground where it is planted good ground? If our words and actions are not Christ-like, then perhaps we are not in the Word of God enough, not renewing our mind, not allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us. The real issues of life proceed from our heart. The Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives to restore us and to draw us closer to the Lord.
Copyright @March 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Are we letting our circumstances, problems, and situations life dictate to us how we act? Are our past experiences with others affect how we respond to those we encounter? Are we walking in kindness and compassion towards others? Kindness is a benevolent attitude or action toward others. The character of a believer should be kindness. Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV) “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” As a believer being led by the Holy Spirit, we have been called to a new disposition (nature) and way of life (conduct). We need to be continuously refreshed and renewed. We must renew our minds continually. We need to yield to the Holy Spirit continually.
Kindness is expressed in our relationships. A gauge of our walk in the Holy Spirit is how we treat people and the quality of our relationships with them. Is the good for others is as important to us as our good? Do our attitudes, actions, and speech give us peace, or are we in a constant state of unrest? If we are listening to the Holy Spirit, we will have peace. If we are listening to the Holy Spirit, our actions will display kindness.
Copyright @March 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
We should allow the Holy Spirit to give us a check-up daily. He should examine our thinking, attitudes, behavior, and speech. Our thoughts can be incorrect. Attitudes can be right or wrong. Both our thinking and attitudes affect our behavior and speech. We should be allowing The Holy Spirit to keep tabs on us. When someone keeps tabs on us, they know everything about us. Psalms 139:23-24 (AMP) “Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” We are not always mindful and conscious of our ways and if they are genuinely in line with God’s methods, standards, and principles.
When we drive an automobile, there are gages to tell us if the vehicle needs service. For example, our tires need air, or oil needs changing. There also is a gage to let us know how much gasoline we have left. There is a check engine light. We have these gages to our automobile operates appropriately. The Holy Spirit is our gauge of how we are really doing if we ask Him. We do not have to guess or decide ourselves on how well we are acting. The Holy Spirit can discern our hearts and keep us in tune.
We do not want the Holy Spirit to examine us because we know that we have wrong attitudes and thinking. If so, we need to repent and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.
Copyright @February 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
People often put their trust in the economy, employer, bank account, or even government. These things change just like the weather. I have been in a place where it rained, snowed, and was sunny and warm all in one day. The economy, employer, the government may be okay one minute and then change in the next minute; their stability is not assured.
As believers our trust can be in the Lord God for, He is always faithful. We can trust Him to supply what we need; it does not matter what financial crisis or who is our government's leader. If we lose our job or do not receive a raise, the stock market fails, there is no stimulus package the Lord God still supplies our need. Philippians 4:19 (AMP) "And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." There is no lack in God. The believers had given Paul's support for the ministry, and now Paul is saying God will supply their needs. They gave willingly, even though they had needs. When we give, we put ourselves into God's financial system and into His hands. We can never out-give God.
Copyright @February 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
Forgiveness is an area that we need to evaluate continually. As individuals, we might overlook that we are resentful, holding on to a hurt, have a grudge, upset with a person and the list goes on and on. It easy to think we are right with the Lord although, we have faulty thoughts, wrong attitudes, inappropriate behavior, and speech. Psalm 139:23 (AMP) “Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” David is saying to the Lord, see if there is any offensive way in me.
There are times in our life when we know for sure that we have unforgiveness. We all desire to have an effective prayer life. Mark 11:25-26 (AMP) And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings.” When begin to pray, we should exam our heart and make sure we are right. Perhaps we think the only obstacle to effective prayer is lack of faith, but this verse is stating refusing to forgive or holding on to bitterness can hinder our prayers. We need to get our hearts right before the Lord in prayer.
Copyright @February 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
We witness a lot of anger, wrath, and rage in our world today. It appears that many people are angry about something. Why do people become angry? Anger is an emotion that can arise from some disappointment, stress, or frustration about some event. Anger can occur because someone feels they have been treated unfairly or are powerless in their circumstances of life. Anger can cause depression. It seems to have different levels of perhaps just being annoyed to rage. Whatever the cause or the level of anger, it has a negative impact on our lives. Do not be a volcano waiting to erupt. Some people use yelling to control others, another form of rage.
Colossians 3:8 (AMP) “But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips!” As believers, we are being called to obedience and leaving worldly behavior behind. We should not overlook these sinful behaviors. Rid means to put off like dirty clothes. How many of us would continually walk around in filthy, muddy clothes? Being angry grieves the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30-31 (AMP) “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). “ When we hold on to anger in heart, we are allowing the devil to control us, not the Holy Spirit. Be a light to the world by being different than the world.
Copyright @February 2021 Carol Wright/Oasis Worship Center
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