Hold Your Tongue

I came across an interesting article today with the following excerpt:, which I think is the solution to my friend's problem. I hope he would ponder over the article....

Proverbs 18:21 in the New Living Translation says: "Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life."

The devil's words have no power....until he gets you to agree with them.

That's right. You know it's true. The enemy can plant an evil thought in your mind like, "I ought to just get a divorce!" The thought alone has no power. It is only a thought. It is what you do with the thought that will determine if the enemy gets any glory from it. If you do as the Word says and "cast it down", it will not accomplish anything for the devil. But - if you hold on to that thought for awhile and think about it seriously, it will start to gain some ground. It is still only a thought though - but if it travels from your mind to your mouth - now we have serious trouble!

For the solution read on....

Proverbs 13 Birds of the Feathers Flock Together

20 Whoever walks with wise people will be wise,
but whoever associates with fools will suffer.
Prov 13:20 (GW)

Reflection of B:

We become who we are with regularly. If we are with the wise and the sensible people who takes discipline we will be like them. But if we are with the fools who live ungodly life we will be just be like them too, unless there is a special mission or calling from God to go and be an influence to these people. So we need to know our own limitation and choose the right company.

Dear Lord,
Help me to constantly check my company and be in the right place that You want me to be. I pray that I will be a shining light wherever I go and not to be led astray by anyone.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Proverbs 9 - Don't Be Gullible

6 Stop being gullible and live.
Start traveling the road to understanding.”
Prov 9:6 (GW)


7 Whoever corrects a mocker receives abuse.
Whoever warns a wicked person gets hurt.

8 Do not warn a mocker, or he will hate you.
Warn a wise person, and he will love you.

9 Give {advice} to a wise person,
and he will become even wiser.

Teach a righteous person,
and he will learn more.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Prov 9:7-10 (GW)

Reflection of B:

Someone ever told me that I am "gullible", that I easily believe others. When I was younger, I was more skeptical about things people say. However, when I grew older I tend to believe others till proven wrong. Am I really "gullible"? If I am, I better "start traveling the road to understanding.” (v6).

I have also learned it the hard way about verses 7 to 9 before. These verses also help us test if a person is "a wise person" or "a righteous person" (v9) when we give advice or teach someone. How this person behaves speaks for him/her as to who he/she really is. I was wrong in my perception of certain people close to me till I see their response to correction. I was sadden, but I learned something precious. Reading God's word help me to know God more, fear Him more and to be wiser.


Dear Lord,
I confess that many times I have been gullible and have been deceived in one way or another. It hurt a lot. Help me to know You more so that I will be wiser day by day. Help me to be careful of people around me and be able to perceive danger when it is coming. Guide me in my association with people be it personal or at work. I commit myself to Your almighty hands tonight.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Proverbs 6-7 - Results of Laziness and Adultery

6 Consider the ant, you lazy bum.
Watch its ways, and become wise.

7 Although it has no overseer, officer, or ruler,

8 in summertime it stores its food supply.
At harvest time it gathers its food.
Prov 6:6-8 (GW)

16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
even seven that are disgusting to him:

17 arrogant eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill innocent people,

18 a mind devising wicked plans,
feet that are quick to do wrong,

19 a dishonest witness spitting out lies,
and a person who spreads conflict among relatives.
Prov 6:16-19 (GW)

32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman has no sense.
Whoever does this destroys himself.

33 An adulterous man will find disease and dishonor,
and his disgrace will not be blotted out,

34 because jealousy arouses a husband's fury.
The husband will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
Prov 6:32-34 (GW)

25 Do not let your heart be turned to her ways.
Do not wander onto her paths,

26 because she has brought down many victims,
and she has killed all too many.
Prov 7:25-26 (GW)

Reflection of B:

The above chapters are warnings to those who are lazy and for men who go to the prostitutes commit adultery. They will reap what they sow eventually. We must be careful not to fall into such traps.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your reminder. May I not fall into any sins that are mentioned above.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

Proverbs 5 - Enjoy Your Marriage

18 Let your own fountain be blessed,
and enjoy the girl you married when you were young,
Prov 5:18 (GW)

21 Each person's ways are clearly seen by the Lord,
and he surveys all his actions.

22 A wicked person will be trapped by his own wrongs,
and he will be caught in the ropes of his own sin.
Prov 5:21-22 (GW)

Reflection of B:

Wisdom tells us that we should enjoy the one we married and not set our heart on someone else. Yet people tend not to listen to this advice. Straying from it has caused many agonies for all in the family.

Another warning is that God can see whatever we do, even no one knows. Sins will be found sooner or later if we don't repent.


Dear Lord,
I pray that You will continue to keep me pure and stay within Your teaching. Forgive me for the sins I may have done and washed me clean. Guide my path so that I will not fall into any temptation.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Proverbs 4 - Guard Your Heart

23 Guard your heart more than anything else,
because the source of your life flows from it.

24 Remove dishonesty from your mouth.
Put deceptive speech far away from your lips.
Prov 4:23-24 (GW)

Reflection of B:

How is my heart now? Thoughts about some pasts today somehow troubled my serene heart. Melancholy set in.

The above verses reminded me that I must guard my heart above all so that it will not affect my life. We are reminded to love God with all our heart, to give Him our heart. Only He can keep our heart in good condition and not be hurt unnecessarily.


Dear Lord,
I give my heart to You tonight. Keep it save in You. Let me not be affected by the pasts or be crippled by it.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Proverbs 2-3 - Benefits of Wisdom

1 My son,
if you take my words {to heart}
and treasure my commands within you,
Prov 2:1 (GW)

6 The Lord gives wisdom.
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He has reserved priceless wisdom for decent people.
He is a shield for those who walk in integrity

8 in order to guard those on paths of justice
and to watch over the way of his godly ones.

9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—
every good course {in life}.

10 Wisdom will come into your heart.
Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

11 Foresight will protect you.
Understanding will guard you.

12 {Wisdom will} save you
from the way of evil,
from the person who speaks devious things,
Prov 2:6-12 (GW)

3 Do not let mercy and truth leave you.
Fasten them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will find favor and much success
in the sight of God and humanity.

5 Trust the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths smooth.
Prov 3:3-6 (GW)

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the first and best part of all your income.
10 Then your barns will be full,
and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.
Prov 3:9-10 (GW)

27 Do not hold back anything good
from those who are entitled to it
when you have the power to do so.
Prov 3:27 (GW)

Reflection of B:

There are so many wise things we can learn from the above proverbs.

1. Principles of wisdom

• We will be wise if we keep God's words in our heart (2:1)
• Only people who are "decent" and have "integrity" (2:7), and those who uphold "justice" and are "goldy" (2:8) will have God's wisdom.
• God's wisdom will "protect" and "guard" us (2:11), and will also "save" us (2:12).
• "Mercy" and "truth" must be our life success principle (3:3,4).
  

2. To ourselves - We need to "trust in the Lord" and "not rely on our own understanding" so that God will help us remove the obstacles along the way (3:5,6).

3. To God - "Honor the Lord with our wealth" and give Him what is best and He will ensure our barn overflows (3:9,10).

4. To others - We are to reward those who deserve and are entitled to it when we have the power to do so(3:27).


Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me that Your wisdom is more than anything else I can possess. I pray that I will not detour from Your teaching and will stay faithful to Your principles of life for me. May I trust You fully and honour You with all I have. I pray that I will treat my colleagues and business associates fairly at my workplace. Watch over me, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Psalms 90 - Two Different Time Frames

4 Indeed, in your sight a thousand years are like a single day,
like yesterday—already past—
like an hour in the night.
5 You sweep mortals away.
They are a dream.
They sprout again in the morning like cut grass.
6 In the morning they blossom and sprout.
In the evening they wither and dry up.
Psalms 90:4-6 (GW)

8 You have set our sins in front of you.
You have put our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 Indeed, all our days slip away because of your fury.
We live out our years like one {long} sigh.
10 Each of us lives for 70 years—
or even 80 if we are in good health.
But the best of them {bring} trouble and misery.
Indeed, they are soon gone, and we fly away.
Psalms 90:8-10 (GW)

17 Let the kindness of the Lord our God be with us.
Make us successful in everything we do.
Yes, make us successful in everything we do.
Psalms 90:17 (GW)

Reflection of B:

God and us have two different time frames. This knowledge helps us understand why sometimes we think God is too slow in action. Yet His time is not our time. In His time He will made all things beautiful. We must be patient to wait and see things He promised happen.

Human lives are short, 70 or 80 years, but science have prolonged our sufferings by prolonging our lives using unnatural means. Verse 10 says that even "the best of them {bring} trouble and misery". That means being alive and even healthy in itself cannot make us happy. We need God's kindness to be with us to make us "successful in everything we do" (v17).


Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding me that Your time is not the same as mine and I have to be patient to wait for Your time to make things happen. I pray that Your kindness will be with me and make me successful in everything I do for Your name's sake.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Psalms 50 - The Safe Way

1 A psalm by Asaph.
The Lord, the only true God, has spoken.
He has summoned the earth
from where the sun rises to where it sets.
Psalms 50:1 (GW)

23 Whoever offers thanks as a sacrifice honors me.
I will let everyone who continues in my way
see the salvation that comes from God.”
Psalms 50:23 (GW)

Reflection of B:

I just realized that not all Psalms are written by King David. This is a Psalm of Asaph. According to Wikipedia,

Asaph Meaning: convener, or collector

(1.) A Levite; one of the leaders of David's choir (1 Chr. 6:39). Psalms 50 and Psalms 73-83 inclusive are attributed to him. He is mentioned along with David as skilled in music, and a "seer" (2 Chr. 29:30). The "sons of Asaph," mentioned in 1 Chr. 25:1, 2 Chr. 20:14, and Ezra 2:41, were his descendants, or more probably a class of poets or singers who recognized him as their master.


One way to honour God is to thank Him. Yet many times we forget to give thanks to God unless it's something major which God has helped or blessed us.

Verse 23 says that to continue in God's way is a way to receive salvation from God. Salvation from what? Salvation from sins, from the evil one, from harms, from ourselves, etc. We need to be saved from all forms of unrighteousness by walking in God's way.


Dear Lord,
May thanksgiving always be in my mouth. For You are the one who keeps me and sees me through my life. Let me not forget You even in the smallest thing that happens in my life. Let me be thankful that You have seen me through another day. Help me to walk in Your way always and receiving Your salvation from all unrighteousness.

I also want to pray for my sisters in Christ, that they may come for the fellowship tomorrow and be blessed by the fellowship in Christ. Open a way for them to come, Lord.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Psalms 14 and 15 - Keeping Promises

1 ....Godless fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt.
They do disgusting things.
There is no one who does good things.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on Adam's descendants
to see if there is anyone who acts wisely,
if there is anyone who seeks help from God.
3 Everyone has turned away.
Together they have become rotten to the core.
No one, not even one person, does good things.
Psalms 14:1-3 (GW)

1 O Lord, who may stay in your tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
Psalms 15:1 (GW)

4 The one who makes a promise and does not break it,
even though he is hurt by it.
Psalms 15:4 (GW)

Reflection of B:

When we read the above verses, we may think that they are sweeping statements and ask how the Psalmist can say "No one, not even one person, does good things". However, if we honestly search our hearts and ask ourselves, we know that no matter how good we think we are, there will be times that we sin. According to the Bible, sinning is coming short of the glory (standard) of God.

23 Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God's glory. Romans 3:23 (GW)

It's an encouragement to know that when we keep our promises, even though it hurts us, God is pleased and we shall have His presence with us.


Dear Lord,
I am a sinner, saved by grace, through the blood of Christ. I am still imperfect and need You to transform me from glory to glory till I am perfect when You come again. There is nothing I can boast, except in Christ Jesus.
Thank You for helping me keep my promises, even though at times they hurt me. For this is Your desire that we be like You who never fail in Your promises.
Thank You in Your wonderful name. Amen.

Psalms 1 - The Blessed Person

1 Blessed is the person who does not
follow the advice of wicked people,
take the path of sinners,
or join the company of mockers.
2 Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord
and reflects on his teachings day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted beside streams—
a tree that produces fruit in season
and whose leaves do not wither.
He succeeds in everything he does.[1]
Psalms 1:1-3 (GW)

6 The Lord knows the way of righteous people,
but the way of wicked people will end.
Psalms 1:6 (GW)

Reflection of B:

Who is a blessed person? The one who delights in God's word constantly (day and night).

How is a blessed person like? He/She is very stable and strong, even in the midst of trials, just like a tree besides the stream.

Yes, God knows the path of the righteous ones. He watches over them and lift them up again and again when they fall.


Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your encouragement for me tonight. Though I was very discouraged just now, You have encouraged me through my sisters in Christ and through Your words tonight. Praise You that I shall stand firm despite of some setback. Hand my hands and lead me on to Your promised land. I pray for my sisters in Christ too, that You will keep them strong in You.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.