***I apologize for not posting the daily meditations for a while. We had internet issues. Thank God for their resolution. Time to get back to imparting to God's people***

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Recovery Christian Center Daily Meditation - 6/26/12 - Speak Life Not Death

"Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring." James 3:2-12 NLT

The Apostle James was right in cautioning us about how much trouble our tongues get us into and how hard it control them. The other day i was visiting a church and then a recovery meeting and both times saw young women dragging their kids to the door cursing at them, yelling at them and calling them names only to go inside and share and testify as to how good God is and how blessed they are. As the text says, "blessing and cursing pouring out of the same mouth." My mother used to say, "You don't have to say everything you think." We as saved and delivered folk literally have the power to speak death or life into people. Think how much damage we could do to a soul seeking God and recovery if we speak unnecessarily harsh to them. Or how folks who know we are saved see us having a meltdown and say, "See look at them. I told you that God stuff don't work!"

Now think how much good we can do for someone who is struggling just by giving them some kind words. Ask a person who's having a bad day, "Can I pray with you? I just want to encourage you." What a difference we can make if we just remember that every person we come in contact with has been created in the image of God. Speaking life and love and encouragement into everyone we meet will have a lasting impression even on the folks who have hurt us. We must remember that when Jesus was being nailed to the cross, He didn't rage at them. He prayed for them. Can we afford to do any less?