These Seven Things: Stirring Up Trouble!

Proverbs 6:16-19 states, "Take note, there are six things the Eternal hates; no, make itseven He abhors: Eyes that look down on others, a tongue that can’t be trusted, hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that conceives evil plans, feet that sprint toward evil, A false witness who breathes out lies, and anyone who stirs up trouble among the faithful." (The Voice)

We discussed lying earlier this week. If you are interested in checking out that blog it is HERE. 

Today, we will be talking about: anyone who stirs up trouble among the faithful.

You all know I love to read different versions of the Bible because I feel like they all give different perspectives and they come together to create an understandable picture of what God is trying to tell us.

Proverbs 6:19-  ".... ,a witness who tells one lie after another,and someone who stirs up trouble among friends." (GNT)

Proverbs 6:19- "...a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community." (NIVUK)

Proverbs 6:19- "...a liar, that is, a false witness; and he who soweth discord among brothers, or among friends.)" (WYC)

Someone who stirs up trouble among friends.

A person who stirs up conflict in the community.
He who sows discord among friends.

This breaks God's heart.

Proverbs Chapter 6.

Earlier in Proverbs chapter 6, the Bible says:

Someone who struts about taking advantage of others
Someone who deceives others
Someone who cheats people
Someone who is consistently pointing a finger at others
Someone who stirs up trouble everywhere

This person is to be avoided.
This person will be destroyed, suddenly.
Their lives will be ruined beyond repair.

When I read through this, the only thing I can think of is:

God, help us to not be the kind of person that is constantly stirring up trouble in our lives or the lives of others. Help us to not be someone that needs to be avoided. Help us to not destroy our lives or the lives of others. HELP US.

I don't want to be the person in Proverbs 6 that God warns us to avoid. It literally makes me sick to my stomach to think about. A person that doesn't improve people's lives-- but tears them down.

James Chapter 4.

In James chapter 4, James writes about selfishness, greed, and discord.

He writes:

"Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that make war inside you. You want things, but you don’t get them. So you kill and are jealous of others. But you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God. Or when you ask, you don’t receive anything, because the reason you ask is wrong. You only want to use it for your own pleasure.... "

Everything described in Proverbs 6:16-19 is rooted in one thing: a heart issue.

Lying stems from our heart.
Pride stems from our heart.
Murder stems from our heart.
Evil stems from our heart.
Stirring up trouble stems from our heart.

James asks the question: Do you know where your fighting and starting arguments come from???

And then he answers that question for us.

It comes from our selfish desires.
From the war taking place within us.
From the jealousy that oozes out of our heart.
From wanting our own way.
From wanting what isn't ours.

This is where arguments stem from--- from our hearts not being aligned with God's Word and His Will. From our hearts being aligned with OUR wants and OUR desires.

A great quote that I try to always remember is this:

"There are some people who always seem angry and continuously look for conflict. Walk away; the battle they are fighting isn't with you, it is with themselves."

We fight a war inside of us-- a battle of human nature vs. God.

And when we are not submissive. When we slack on our prayer life, our worship life, our Bible reading-- the human nature has a clear path to our heart. It makes it's way in and starts to stir trouble within our soul which in turn causes us to stir trouble in other areas of our lives.

Have you ever said to yourself, 'I need to keep my mouth shut about this situation,' but a few moments later, words are spewing out of your mouth that you know you are going to regret.....

We must be cautious to submit our thoughts, words, and actions to Jesus Christ. Ask Him to guard our mouths, guard our thoughts.. He will do it! We just have to want it bad enough. 

Busybodies.

The Bible gives a great word for someone who stirs up trouble. He calls them 'busybodies.'

According to the dictionary, a 'busybody' is described as: a meddling or prying person. A mischief maker. A trouble maker. An interferer.

In 1 Peter 4, Peter tells us that we will face trials and sufferings because we live in Christ. He tells us that if we experience pain and suffering in the name of Christ, we should consider ourselves happy because Christ also suffered. HOWEVER, Peter warns us that we should NOT be happy to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a busybody. This is something to be ashamed of. 

Ashamed. A busybody is put in the same category as a murderer, thief, and evildoer....

Jesus, help us.

Instead of being a busybody and an evildoer- Peter says:

"Love each other steadily and unselfishly, because love makes up for many faults. Show hospitality to each other without complaint. Use whatever gift you’ve received for the good of one another so that you can show yourselves to be good stewards of God’s grace in all its varieties. If you’re called upon to talk, speak as though God put the words in your mouth; if you’re called upon to serve others, serve as though you had the strength of God behind you. In these ways, God may be glorified in all you do through Jesus the Anointed..."

Love each other steadily. 

Love each other unselfishly.
Love covers all sins.
Show hospitality to others-- without complaining.
Use our gifts for the good of others.
Speak as though God put the words in our mouths.
Serve as though had we have the strength of God in us.
Glorify God in everything we do.


GLORIFY GOD IN ALL WE DO.

Being a busy body... stirring up trouble.. talking about others... gossiping... lying... spreading rumors...

None of this glorifies God.

In Matthew 5, Matthew writes, "Blessed are the peacemakers..."

God, help us to shift ours hearts. Help us to realize the power in our words and help us to see when we are not glorifying You. Help us to be peacemakers, not troublemakers. Help us to be loving to everybody, not busybodies. Let us use our time to praise You.. to do good in Your name.. We love You Jesus!

These Seven Things- Feet That Sprint Towards Evil

Proverbs 6:16-19 states, "Take note, there are six things the Eternal hates; no, make it seven He abhors: Eyes that look down on others, a tongue that can’t be trusted, hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that conceives evil plans, feet that sprint toward evil, A false witness who breathes out lies, and anyone who stirs up trouble among the faithful." (The Voice)

Feet that sprint toward evil.

Feet that be swift in running to mischief.
Eagerness to do wrong.

Feet that are quick to do evil.

What would the description of our 'feet' be today?

'Feet' are mentioned quite often in the Word of God.

There was the washing of feet, the sacredness of wearing no shoes on the feet while on holy ground, and the metaphors concerning 'feet.'

In Romans chapter 3, we read that Jesus tells the disciples that no one is better than the other (Jews are not better than the Gentles, etc.) Jesus said no one is righteous- they have all turned away from God. He then begins to described their actions: their words are full of deceit, lies roll off their tongues, they spill dangerous threats from their lips, their speech is filled with curses, and their FEET are quick to hurt and to kill. They leave ruin and destruction wherever they go.

In Psalms 73, David talks about how he was envious of the prosperity of the wicked- it seemed like their lives were smooth and simple! They weren't in trouble or plagued like everyone else was. They appeared to have everything you could have hoped for. In this moment, David's FEET slipped! Another version says that David's FEET almost fell into sin because he saw this luxurious lifestyle of the wicked. Another version says his FEET almost stumbled- he almost lost faith because he saw how much he struggled trying to do good, while the wicked had it all. It wasn't until the end of chapter 73 that God allowed David to understand- their life right now is only temporary, a dream because they are not living a life pleasing to God.Our reward is eternal-- we just have to hold out for it.

In Proverbs chapter 1, David writes that only fools refuse to be taught. Sinners will attempt to entice them. It might sound appealing at times. But God warns us to watch our feet that we do not fall into their way of life. Proverbs 1:16 says, "because their feet run toward trouble and they hurry to commit murder." Greed overtakes their lives. Their feet are ready to do evil acts.

Proverbs 19:2 says, "He who has no knowledge of his own soul, it is not good for him; and he who is hasty with his FEET sins (impatience will get you into trouble)." (GLT/GNT) A lack of patience, FEET that run into whatever situation first without thinking... it is not good for us. God calls us to be patient, to think, to use wisdom and knowledge.

How would God describe our FEET today?

Would He say that they are quick to run to trouble-- to gossip, to conversations that tear others down, to crime, to making fun of others, to stealing? Are they impatient? Do they run to situations without thinking or using wisdom? Are they falling into a life of sin? Are our feet running with the crowd? Are they jealous and being driven by envy??

OR.

Are our FEET on a solid foundation? In Psalms chapter 38-39, David revealed he was suffering with guilt from his sins. David said there was no rest in bones because of his sins. His sins were a huge burden to him-- to heavy for him to carry. David said that his sorrow was continually in front of him. He begged for God to not forsake him. He asked God to deliver him from all his transgressions. And in chapter 40, David declares that he was waiting patiently for the Lord to hear him. He said "God brought me out of a horrible pit, out of the mud and the clay. God set my feet on a rock and made my steps steady." He put a new song in David's mouth, one that praised God. 

Is His Word a lamp to our FEET? Psalms 119:105 says, "Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me and keep my feet from stumbling." His Word is our road map- our compass. It teaches us how to live the life God has called us to-- IF WE ALLOW IT. His Word teaches us how to be patient- how to love others- how to be faithful- how to live a life pleasing to God. It teaches us how to find joy- to be at peace- to let our fears go-- IF WE ALLOW IT. His Word can be a light to our feet-- teaching us where to walk, how to walk. 

Are we keeping our FEET from evil ways?? Psalms 119:101 says, "I keep my feet from every evil way, in order to observe your word." Keeping our feet from every evil ways means that we are consistently praying, consistently repenting, and consistently striving to following a path of goodness. According to the dictionary, 'evil' is described as: morally wrong or bad, immoral, harmful, marked by anger. God's law- His call to leave the evil ways behind- lets wisdom flow through us. We learn what is the best way to act in situations, how to react, how to live a peaceful life, how to love. 1 Corinthians 6:9 says, " Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves...." God, please keep our feet from evil.

How would God describe our feet today?

These Seven Things: A Heart That Makes Sinful Plans

Proverbs 6:16-19 says, " These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (KJV)

Another version states, "For there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven: haughtiness, lying, murdering, plotting evil, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, sowing discord among brothers." (TLB)


Plotting To Do Evil.

Other versions of Proverbs 6:18 says-

A heart that creates wicked plans
Hearts that plan to do evil things
A heart that plots evil schemes
A heart that makes sinful plans
Any time we plan-- or create an atmosphere-- to do evil things- it is breaking God's heart. This goes from the person planning to kill another human being to the phone call made to a friend where we destroy another person with our words.

In James 4:17, Paul writes, "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." When we know what is right and wrong and we choose the latter... this is sin in the eyes of God. We must be mindful of the life He has called us to and follow it with our whole heart. We must learn to subject our thoughts and actions to Jesus. We must learn self-control over our flesh- over our thoughts- over our words.

Born in to Sin.

We were all born into sin. Psalms 51:5 says, "But I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me." (TLB) It is what is called our 'human nature.' If we do not pray every day and commit our lives to Jesus, living a life that is not pleasing to the Lord becomes easier and easier.

I've been there-- where I once had a steady relationship with Jesus Christ, over the years I stopped praying, I stopped reading the Word of God. And it would bother me from time to time. I would see my Bible sitting on the bottom shelf of my pantry and think 'I haven't picked that up in so long...' but I would just move along. I didn't feel the desire or the need to reestablish a commitment to God. Maybe it was out of guilt. Maybe it was because I enjoyed our lifestyle. But all I know is that acts that I know God was shaking His head at became easy- little guilt. I was born into sin.. and through a lack of prayer.. through a lack of wanting to be close to God.. I fell back into that life. I didn't subject my thoughts and actions to His goodness.

When we don't have a relationship with God, having a heart that plans to do evil seems almost second nature. It all goes back to what we have been discussing the past week--- it is all a heart issue.

The Heart Issue.

When our hearts are not lined up with GOODNESS, bad tends to flow out of them.

In Matthew chapter 15, we read about the Pharisees asking Jesus a question concerning rituals. Jesus said 'People honor me with their lips but their hearts are nowhere near me. They elevate mere human ritual to the status of law, their worship is a meaningless sham.' Jesus then says, 'What you put into your mouth cannot make you clean or unclean. It is what comes out of your mouth that makes you unclean. Peter told Jesus that He might have offended the Pharisees with this statement. Jesus said the Pharisees are like the blind leading the blind-- they will all fall into a ditch. Peter still wanted a further explanation, so Jesus broke it down even more for us.

Jesus said, 'Don't you understand that whatever you take in through your mouth makes its way to your stomach and eventually out of the bowels of your body? BUT-- the things that come out of your mouth- your curses, your fears- your denunciations- these come from your heart and it is the stirrings of your heart that will make you unclean. For your heart harbors evil thoughts- fantasies of murder, adultery, fornication, fantasies of stealing, lying, and slandering. These make you unclean!'

Our heart- when it is not right with God- is what makes us unclean.

Mark 7:21-22 says, "It’s what grows out of the hearts of people that leads to corruption: evil thoughts, immoral sex, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wicked acts, treachery, sensuality, jealousy, slander, pride, and foolishness." (The Voice)

and Luke wrote in Luke 6:45, "It’s the same with people. A person full of goodness in his heart produces good things; a person with an evil reservoir in his heart pours out evil things. The heart overflows in the words a person speaks; your words reveal what’s within your heart." (The Voice)

What is in our heart will proceed out of our mouths- out of our hands- out of our actions. It will overflow-- so we must be careful that what is stored up in our heart is goodness, peace, faith, love, joy, meekness, and a gentle spirit.

Every one of the abominations discussed in Proverbs 6 relate to one thing: our heart.

Filling Our Hearts and Minds with GOODNESS.

It all goes back to what we are filling our heart and our mind with. Are we filling our thoughts with evil things? What are we listening to? What are we watching? What are we thinking about? We do have control over our thoughts. It can be difficult, but we CAN do it. From someone who has struggled with anxiety much of her life-- anxiety that caused me from being able to go into public for quite some time- I can tell you that the mind is a battlefield and having control of our thoughts is the only way we can defeat fear and wicked imaginations. It takes work-- and a lot of subjection.

I read a quote on Pinterest (Shocker I know! Lol) that stated, "If your mind is filled with the Word of God, then it can’t be filled with impure thoughts.”  David Jeremiah

What are our hearts full of today?

What are we feeding our minds?

Are we pouring in thoughts of lust, greed, anger, bitterness, jealousy, hatred, envy, spite, ego? Or are we pouring in thoughts of love, peace, joy, self-control, patience, gentleness, humbleness, content, and goodness?

It is up to us. God can't fill us with things if we don't want them. He's not going to force peace into our lives. He isn't going to make us be loving. He will give us opportunities, but He won't force it on anyone. He wants us to WANT that lifestyle and He wants us to ACTIVELY seek it! I knew I wanted to fix my life-- but I had to work to do it. He will pour all of His goodness in-- He will! He will help us live a life of peace-- a life full of love-- but He needs us to want it so bad that we will do anything to obtain it!

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life. (ERV)

What we think tends to control what we do-- pour in the Word of God- pour in conversations about goodness-- pour in music and movies that don't create an atmosphere of evil in your mind.

Do we want a heart that devises wicked imaginations?

Or do we want a heart that plans goodness in our lives and the lives of others?

Set in your mind to BLESS others today. Set in your mind to THINK on good things today. Set in your mind to let LOVE overflow out of you today.

Jesus, this is our prayer!

These Seven Things- We have a HEART problem

Proverbs 6:16-17 states, "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood..." (KJV) 

Another version states, "For there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven: haughtiness, lying, murdering, plotting evil, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, sowing discord among brothers." (TLB)

Homicide in the United States.

There are 404 'Forensic Files' episodes, 125 'Cold Case Files' episodes, 326 'First 48 Hours' episodes..... and that's just scratching the surface of shows displaying homicides in the world.

As of 2015, there were 15,696 murders that took place in America. There was also an estimated 90,185 rapes. (FBI Latest Crime Statistics)

Hatred, jealousy, and greed are running rampant in our world and it leads other human beings to 'shed innocent blood' or to 'murder.'

I love one of the sayings I read awhile back- 'We have a heart problem, not a weapon problem' and that is the truth in my eyes. One thing I've learned from watching 'Forensic Files' is this... If someone has bitterness in their heart and they want to take the life of another-- they are going to do with their hands, shoe strings, a knife, a rock,. doesn't matter. They will get the job done.

What Does the Bible Say About Murder?

Genesis 9:5-6 states, "More than that, do not spill the blood of any human. If anyone spills your blood, I will hold him responsible. It makes no difference whether it is a man or an animal, both will be accountable to Me! If someone murders a fellow human being, then I will require his life in return." (VOICE)

The Ten Commandments specifically state: Do not commit murder.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make idols.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

In Jeremiah chapter 7, we find that the temple was in Jerusalem; however, the people of Jerusalem were not following the word of God. God told Jeremiah to go speak these words to the people:

O Judah, listen to this message from God. Listen to it, all of you who worship here. The Lord, the God of Israel says: Even yet, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. But don’t be fooled by those who lie to you and say that since the Temple of the Lord is here, God will never let Jerusalem be destroyed. You may remain under these conditions only: If you stop your wicked thoughts and deeds and are fair to others; if you stop exploiting orphans, widows, and foreigners, and stop your murdering; if you stop worshiping idols as you do now to your hurt, then, and only then, will I let you stay in this land that I gave to your fathers to keep forever. You think that because the Temple is here, you will never suffer? Don’t fool yourselves! Do you really think that you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and worship Baal and all of those new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are saved!”—only to go right back to all these evil things again? Is my Temple but a den of robbers in your eyes? For I see all the evil going on in there.

God saw the evil taking place... and He was going to destroy the temple because of it.

He saw how they were praying in the temple and then they turned around and lied, committed adultery, and murdered.

Murder is evil in the eyes of God. 

Galatians 5:19-21- "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (KJV)

In Galatians chapter 5, we read about the 'works of the flesh' or 'acts of the flesh.' These are called this because they are all driven by the needs/wants/emotions of the flesh.

Adultery- voluntary sexual intercourse between a spouse and someone who is not their spouse- is fueled by lust.
Fornication- voluntary sexual intercourse between two people not married to each other- is fueled by lust.
Uncleanness- being morally wrong- is fueled by the wants of our flesh.
Lasciviousness- lust- this is fueled by the wants of our flesh.
Idolatry- religious worship of idol/excessive adoration or devotion- this is fueled by our flesh searching for something greater
Witchcraft- the art or practice of magic and sorcery- this is fueled by our flesh seeking something.
Hatred- the feeling of hatred, intense dislike, or extreme aversion is fueled by our emotions.
Variance- causing disagreements and quarrels- this is fueled by our own wants/our own desires
Emulations- jealous rivalry-- this is fueled by our desire to want what other people have.
Wrath- vengeance or punishment as the result of anger- this is fueled by our emotions and self-righteousness
Strife- vigorous or bitter conflict- this is fueled by our emotions and our lack of self-control.
Seditions- any action or speech promoting rebellion- this is fueled by our desire to have what we want, when we want it.
Heresies- divisions- this is fueled by our wants and how we want things to work for us alone
Envyings- a feeling of discontent or covetousness of what someone else has- this is driven by our emotions and our wants
Murders- the killing of another human being- this is fueled by our emotions and feelings of anger, jealousy, greed, and more.
Drunkenness- given to intoxication- this is fueled by our own desires- our emotions.
Revellings- wild partying- this is fueled by our own physical wants and desires.

All of these works/acts of the flesh are fueled by our own desires, our own wants, our own emotions. Murder included.

On an episode of Forensic Files, I once heard that must homicides are because of 1 of 3 things: LUST, GREED, OR ANGER.

God, help us to control our emotions, our feelings, our thoughts-- so that our actions can be controlled.

The Heart.

Genesis 49:6 states, "O my soul, stay away from them. May I never be a party to their wicked plans. For in their anger they murdered a man, and maimed oxen just for fun." (TLB)

And in Luke 6:45, Luke writes, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." (NIV)

Whatever is in our hearts WILL come out eventually-- whether it is in our words or our actions. It will proceed. We cannot harbor bitterness and anger in our hearts-- and not deal with it through prayer- and not expect it to surface at some point.

The heart is the issue when it comes to all of the acts of the flesh, especially murder. 

It becomes where our wants, our desires, our needs, our emotions-- they become more important the the breath of another person. Anger overtakes common sense. Lust overrides the life God has called us to. Greed turns us in to an evil person.

And we are left to pay the consequences of NOT getting our hearts right with Jesus Christ.

We can only do this through prayer. Through washing our hearts. Through cleansing. Through repentance. Through asking God to get ride of all the nasty things with in us! 

Homicides are running rampant-- Almost 16,000 people were taken from our country last year-- all because we have a HEART problem. All because we cannot submit our actions to Jesus Christ. We cannot submit our thoughts to His Word. We cannot see the importance of another human being's life. We cannot value the breath of another human being because we are so blinded by our own wants.

We must submit our wants and needs to Him. Ask Him for help. He will never leave us or forsake us. He promised!

Jesus, help us to get our hearts aligned with Your Word today. We plead the blood over our minds- over our thoughts- over our feelings- over our emotions. We submit it to you, Jesus and we ask for Your help. Help us to realize that You created every person on this earth and You called us to LOVE one another- not hurt one another. We love You lamb of God. Thank You for everything You do for us!

These Seven Things: A Lying Tongue.

Proverbs 6:16-17 states, "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood..." (KJV) 

Another version states, "For there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven: haughtiness, lying, murdering, plotting evil, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, sowing discord among brothers." (TLB)

The Dangers of a Lying Tongue.

Proverbs 12:19 states, "Lies last only a moment, but the truth lasts forever." (ERV)

I am sure many of us have heard the quote- it takes years to establish trust, but only seconds to destroy that trust.

Lying breeds an atmosphere of destruction- especially when it comes to trust.

I read a quote that stated, "One lie is enough to question all truths" and I couldn't help but see how true this is.

The first time someone lies to you, you start thinking, 'I wonder how many other things they have lied about? Omitted?" It is a vicious cycle that could be solved with one thing: complete honesty.

Not only does lying breed a lack of trust, but lying also breeds the destruction of other people's lives. We have to be so careful the words we speak with our tongues-- we are not just speaking words in to the atmosphere, we are affecting the lives of others as well.

The Destruction of Other People's Lives.

Proverbs 26:28 states, "You have to hate someone to want to hurt him with lies. Insincere talk brings nothing but ruin." (GNT)

If we use our lies to hurt other people, the Bible says we must have some sort of hatred in our hearts. 

Proverbs 10:12 says, "Hatred causes arguments, but love overlooks all wrongs." (ERV)

When we feel that bitterness-- that frustration-- that anger-- building up inside of us toward someone else, we need to start praying in that moment. We must pray for our spirit, our soul, our feelings, our emotions, our actions, and our mouths. What we speak in that instant could affect our entire life as well as the life of others. Do we want to be the person that tears others down or do we want to be the people known for lifting others up? The choice is ours.

Hatred stewing in our hearts only lays a foundation of evil.

Lies will proceed out of our mouths.
Gossip will become candy to our ears.
Bitterness will eat us alive.

Proverbs 10:18 states, "Liars secretly hoard hatred; fools openly spread slander." (MSG)

Liars secretly hoard hatred.

But God can heal our hearts. He can heal that anger. We don't have to give in to it. We don't have to speak words of hurt- words of evil.

The Destruction of Our Lives.


Psalms 52:3 says,  "You love evil instead of good. You would rather lie than tell the truth" (NIRV)

Do we want this to be what God Almighty says about us? Do we want Him to look at our lives and think, 'She would rather lie than speak the truth.' 'She loves evil instead of following my commandments and loving goodness!' 

I know I don't want that to be what my Savior thinks of me...

And I know He doesn't want us to destroy our own lives, our spirits through a lying tongue.

We are called to work out our own salvation.. and part of that salvation is protecting our own eyes, ears, mouths, and bodies from all appearances of evil. (Philippians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:22)

Works of the Flesh. 

In Galatians chapter 5, Paul writes about the works of the flesh. 

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)

Another version states, "But when you follow your own wrong inclinations, your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group—and there will be wrong doctrine, 21 envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God." (TLB)

Hatred. Wrath. Strife. Fighting. Jealousy. Anger.

These are works of the flesh that we must crucify daily.

We are humans-- God does not expect perfection from us-- but He does want us to recognize how dangerous these are to our lives and the lives of others and He wants us to pray over them and work hard at not allowing them to rule our lives. 

All of these works of the flesh lead to turmoil. 

Turmoil for our souls.
Turmoil in our families.
Turmoil in our relationships.

Jesus, help us. 

God let this be our prayer:

Psalms 119:29, "Turn me away from a life of lies. Graciously provide me with your teachings." 

Psalms 120:2, "“Deliver my life, O Yahweh, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.”

Teach us how to hold our tongue, Lord. Teach us to speak the truth. Teach us to not want to hurt others. Turn us away from a life of lies.

It is up to us to be mindful of how we are using our mouths-- what are the words we are speaking today???? How do they define our character? Are we tearing people down with them? Are we allowing hatred to fill our hearts? Are we spewing evil? 

The choice is ours.

We can submit to Jesus and speak life.
Or we can submit to our human nature and speak lies.