No Short Cuts!

Don't you just hate it when you are standing in line, waiting patiently for something whether in line at the grocery store, amusement park, or waiting for that prime parking space less than 25 yards from the front door of the store, and then someone takes your spot? What do you do? How do you handle it?

I know for me, I am a very non confrontational person so I say nothing then complain about it when I get home. Wishing I could just speak my mind but the words just won't come out right. I think my biggest fear is that it may turn hostile or even violent especially in today's world so perhaps my choice is the best for know.

However voicing my concern at home or to someone else just doesn't get the job done either. Lately I've been battling my words. I do a great job at encouraging everyone else to be positive and speak in kindness but looking back at my conversations over the course of the day, I cringe. I failed. Again!

Yet, I am not a failure. See if I gave up and just said to myself well that is just me, I verbalize things and it's better to let it out than keep it inside. At least that's what I've been told. Yet God's Word speaks the truth.

James 3:2 - " We 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."

WOW! I have a lot of work to go. This is my study and one area of work that may take me a life time to control. God's Word says if we can control what we say, we would be perfect. What is in our minds and hearts comes out of our mouths.

So we need to change that. We can't however on own merits succeed in this endeavor. We need God's help, every single day, every hour, every minute and every second to keep our thoughts pure and our hearts thinking on those fruits of the Spirit.

Have you thought of just how small things control larger objects? The Bible speaks of two examples in James 3:3-8. They are a bridle or bit in a horses mouth that controls the direction we want our horse to go, and a rudder on a ship. One small piece of wood or steel will steer the course of a large ship. So our tongue therefore controls our bodies.

We may try to change everything else about ourselves but if we truly want to move forward in the way of God's will for our lives, we should begin by controlling our tongue first and then everything else will fall in line. With God there is no short cuts!