Life Plan Devotion #51 [Spring Cleaning, Negative Talk, Day 1]

We spent time spring cleaning, seeking to get strife out of our heart and home. Whether it's disobedience, intrigue (stirring things up for one's entertainment), or fussing about little things, all forms of strife lead to quarrels, factions (separations), and battles. As always, love is the answer, and if you ask the Lord for wisdom in how to deal with the strife in your heart/home/work place/church, He will be faithful to give you answers/ideas and provide healing.
Today, we begin looking at a second area where God desires that we clean out--negative talk, in all its forms. For today, pay special attention to how many negative words are spoken to and around you. You may even find that negative talk has become a habit, but habits can be replaced with new, better habits.
James 3:5 says that "the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." Our tongue can sure get us into trouble. Jesus said, "What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth" (Matthew 15:11). It is so important that we watch what we say, because "the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21). Based on the things you say today, what will be your fruit/reward tomorrow?

Proverbs 18:21 [NLT]
"The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."

What this has to do with weight loss: Are you speaking life into your weight-loss journey, or are you speaking death? Pay attention to things you say about your journey. If you're speaking positive words of hope about your journey (Example: "I know I will get to my goal weight and be able to maintain"), you're speaking life into it. If you're speaking negative words of frustration about your journey (Example: "I'm never going to get to my goal weight, at this rate"), you're speaking death into it. What you say today will come to pass tomorrow, so choose your words wisely.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I often forget how powerful words are, both those spoken by myself and those spoken by others. Help me to really listen to what is being said, and help me to clean out all negative talk from my heart and home. May all our words honor You and be helpful and healing words for this home. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, determined to listen for and get rid of negative talk in your life.

Life Plan Devotion #9 [Words]

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." What a lie is that old saying! Words are very powerful and can tear down or build up, bring out the best in a person or bring out the worst. Lives have been changed forever, by one conversation. Emily Dickinson, English poet, wrote, "'A word is dead when it is said,' some say. I say it just begins to live that day."
We tend to forget how powerful are our words. After all, God used words to bring everything into being--"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Genesis 1:3, NIV). Our words are powerful, and God reminds us of that in the verse, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21, KJV). May this year be the year that you "guard [your] mouth and [your] tongue," for that will "keep [yourself] from calamity" (Proverbs 21:23, NIV, with pronoun change noted in brackets).

Psalm 19:14 [NIV]
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

What this has to do with weight loss: How many times have you said something like, "I'm never going to get this weight off" or "I can't stop eating; I have no willpower"? Now that you know how powerful words are, be careful what you say, for when you speak, your mind and heart will work to make it come to pass--no matter if it's positive or negative.

Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, You are my Rock and my Redeemer. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight. Today, I ask You to help me become acutely aware of how my comments and conversations (even those I have with myself) positively or negatively affect others (even myself), how they build or destroy. Guide my conversations so that, through my words, You will fill others with hope and courage. If I need to speak a hard truth, Lord, let me do so from a loving heart, filled to overflowing with Your grace. May I truly be the mouthpiece of Your Holy Spirit when I speak and His ears when I listen. I pray in Jesus' Name. Amen."

Go forth today, and speak good words.