Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. (KJV)
Isaiah 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. (KJV)
Are you mindful of what you say to God?
You have the liberty to talk to God. Do you sometimes forget that you’re actually talking “to God”? Or do you say things as if you were talking to a friend or relative? You can do anything you want. However, not everything you do is beneficial. You can say whatever you want, again, not everything you say is edifying.
1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)
Without knowing it, you may say disrespectful and dishonorable things to God. Here are some examples:
You say: If you get me out of this mess, I’ll never do this again.
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 If you make a promise to God, do not be slow to keep it; for He takes no pleasure in fools. So do what you have promised. 5 In fact, it would be better not to make a vow in the first place than to make it and not fulfill it. (The Voice TVT)
God is saying: I know you. I know if you really mean what you are promising. Also, please keep in mind, I know if you are going to keep this promise.
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You say: I do everything I can for others. It is not the same for me. It’s as if nobody loves me.
Romans 5:7-8 Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to willingly give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a good man [one who is noble and selfless and worthy] someone might even dare to die. 8 But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Amplified Bible AMP)
God is saying: My love for you isn’t enough because you don’t spend enough time with Me to get to know Me and experience My love. If you did, you would see that I love you more than you can even contain.
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You say: At the end of another day, and I’m all alone. I want someone to share my life with. The people in my life don’t understand me.
Hebrews 13:5b-6a For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] 6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)
God is saying: Though you may feel alone, you are not. Sit down with Me right now, quiet your mind. Take out your journal and tell Me what you wanted to share with the people in your life. Then, and this is very important, wait until I speak to you about all you have shared. I understand you.
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You say: I purchase clothes; I buy makeup, I even learn how to put it all together and still I don’t feel beautiful. When I look in the mirror, I don’t like what I see.
Psalm 139:13-15 For You shaped me, inside and out. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath. 14 I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul. 15 You see all things; nothing about me was hidden from You As I took shape in secret, carefully crafted in the heart of the earth before I was born from its womb. (The Voice TVT)
God is saying: If you looked at yourself through My eyes, you would change what you see and what you say. I made you in My image. You are comparing yourself to the wrong things. It is your human nature that causes you to feel this way. I want you to live in the divine nature I created you in. I want you to look in the mirror and see Me.
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You say: There are so many things I have done in my life. How could God forgive me? I am unforgivable.
Psalm 103:10-12 Thankfully, God does not punish us for our sins and depravity as we deserve. In His mercy, He tempers justice with peace. 11 Measure how high heaven is above the earth; God’s wide, loving, kind heart is greater for those who revere Him. 12 You see, God takes all our crimes—our seemingly inexhaustible sins—and removes them. As far as east is from the west, He removes them from us. (The Voice TVT)
God is saying: I forgave you before you sinned. I forgave you before you were even born. I am not you. I don’t handle things how you do. There are two things I want you to remember. One, you don’t think you are forgivable because you harbor unforgiveness in your heart. I sent my son to die for your sins and the sins of those you are carrying a grudge against. Accept what Jesus did for you. Two, if you set others free, you can set yourself free. If you accept all of what Jesus did for you, you will live without guilt and shame.
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You say: I have been told often enough that I did not lie up to my potential. I made some choices that caused people to look down on me. I keep messing up. I take a step forward and then something happens, and I am pushed two steps back. I am just not worth anything.
1 John 3:1-2 Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that they didn’t recognize him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children right now; however, it is not yet apparent what we will become. But we do know that when it is finally made visible, we will be just like him, for we will see him as he truly is. (The Passion Translation TPT)
God is saying: I don’t determine value the way you do, nor the way the world does. I chose you as My child. You are priceless. You are heir to my throne. Look to Me to tell you what your worth is. I created you with purpose and a specific plan. Spend time with me and you will see in unfold. Stop determining your value by what you do. Determine your value by what you allow Me to do through you.
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God is a spirit, the Holy Spirit. He is not a human being. He does not respond to things the way human beings do (so grateful He does not). It is important to remember He is omniscient, omnipresent and all-powerful. You must realize, when you pray prayers out of emotion and insincerity, you are not helping yourself. You don’t have to use vain repetitions or a multitude of words in prayer. It is not a sales pitch; you are talking to the creator of the universe. You have been granted audience with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords; keep in mind He is Kadosh [ kā-dosh] (The Holy One). Reflect on who He is and spend more of your prayer time listening rather than talking.
Please agree with me as I pray:
Father God, there have been times when I was told, “You better check yourself before You wreck yourself.” Whoever I was talking to felt I was out of order because of who they were. I have also been guilty of saying things to You without keeping in mind who I was talking to and I repent for not giving You the honor You are due. When I got out of line, my father used to ask me, “Who do you think you are talking to?” You deserve that same respect and more. You are Holy. I temper my conversation when I’m talking to my pastor or to the boss. Though I can ask You anything I want; I need to remember You are GOD. If I got the opportunity to speak to the president; I wouldn’t say any ole thing. I will give You greater respect. I can tell You what I want without disrespecting Your Holiness and the Glory of who You are. I can ask You for what I need without asking You to a pity party that compromises my understanding of Your Majesty. I don’t have the right to try to handle You, order You around, or demand anything from You. It is enough for me to say thank You for what You have already done. I will spend less of my time talking and more of my time listening. Thank You for giving me a continual audience with You. You are the King of Glory, the Holy One and I will honor You…
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Ask the Lord what He wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal His response as described here.