Careless talk?

Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly. (Plutarch)

You might think you are a very religious person. But if your tongue is out of control, you are fooling yourself. Your careless talk makes your offerings to God worthless. (James 1:26)

I cannot help but think of the times I have droned on and on with someone about a topic I have such interest in, only to realize they have not been listening because I am the only one interested in the topic! I have had to learn to 'read the crowd', so to speak, and listen more than I speak. It was not an easy lesson to learn, but a necessary one, especially as it pertains to sharing the truth of the gospel message. I used to think I needed to preach a sermon, but then realized my life was speaking louder than my words.

Know how to listen - this is our instruction today. The tongue can wag on and on, making it hard to really 'hear' what is being said. The more 'words' we use, the more we think others will get the point. The truth is that we don't need 'big words' as much as we need heartfelt words that encourage trust. An out-of-control tongue can do much damage, turning the 'hearers' into walled off 'listeners'. As Jesus commissioned his disciples to go out two-by-two, spreading the good news about him and the freedom he brought to them, they ask what they should say. Why? They were not 'learned teachers of the Law of Moses', so they didn't think they 'knew' what to say.

Jesus' response to them? Don't worry about what to say but trust the Spirit of God to give you the right words, in the right time, delivered to the right audience. We can glean from this that if we want others to listen, speak what the Spirit gives us in that moment. How do we come to the place of knowing what to speak and when to speak it forth? We learn to listen to Jesus. At first, the disciples actually spent more time listening to Jesus than they did speaking of him. They learned by listening - taking in the teachings and then allowing them to 'ruminate' within. Learn to listen - then you will know when and what to speak!

The more 'learned' one has become is not important - books don't bring us life. The best 'learning' comes sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening intently. It is in listening that we learn to control our words. Just sayin!

Be Heard

Do you ever wonder how to pray for our nation right now? In this unsettled times of pandemic resurgence, uncertain election outcomes, and even unrest due to senseless acts of violence, how do we pray for our nation? I think it becomes quite clear as we consider this passage: God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory: I call out to You on behalf of Your people. Give them minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You. Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in. Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace. Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance. Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power. (Ephesians 1:17-19)

I call out to you on behalf of your people - this is where it begins - we stop what we are doing and we actually take time to call out to God. We take notice of the things around us, even when we don't understand them, or feel they are ridiculous, and we call out. It is our voice that needs to be heard in the throne room of God, my friends. 

Give them minds ready to received wisdom and revelation - this is the crux of our 'crying out' - for all mankind to be ready and willing to receive wisdom and revelation. Wisdom is applied knowledge - revelation is the disclosure of things not previously seen or understood. We pray for both because without wisdom our actions are hit or miss - without revelation our purpose in acting is really not of much value.

Open the eyes of their hearts - why? This nation needs to know God - to come to a revelation of his power and his greatness. To return to its roots! Asking God to open the eyes of their hearts really implies that their 'heart's eyes' have been closed by something or someone. They are 'blinded' to the truth around them. When we pray for the eyes of our nation to be opened, we are praying for the 'blinders' to fall away and for the people to begin to see clearly.

Let the light of your truth flood in - this is where vision begins - with the introduction of light. In the pitch black of darkness, can we see? Certainly not well! It is when light begins to dawn, when the first glimmers of radiance begin to cast a glow that revelation begins to occur.

Shine your light on the hope you are calling them to embrace - the reason we pray for light to overtake the darkness is that we know with the light comes hope. There is no greater thing we can pray for our nation right now - bring us hope - and do so by revealing to us the hope you bring, God.

Reveal to them the glorious riches of your inheritance - prepared for them in advance of them ever knowing them. We don't just want opened eyes and softened hearts - we want willing spirits that will embrace what is made available in Christ Jesus to each one who will ask.

Let them see the full extent of your power - at work already because you and I are upholding our nation in prayer and crying out today. Just prayin!