May 6, 2013: Catching Up.../Words Hurt!

Psalm 12

Amplified Bible (AMP)

To the Chief Musician; set [possibly] an octave below. A Psalm of David.

1 Help, Lord! For principled and godly people are here no more; faithfulness and the faithful vanish from among the sons of men.

2 To his neighbor each one speaks words without use or worth or truth; with flattering lips and double heart [deceitfully] they speak.

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongues that speak proud boasting,

4 Those who say, With our tongues we prevail; our lips are our own [to command at our will]—who is lord and master over us?

5 Now will I arise, says the Lord, because the poor are oppressed, because of the groans of the needy; I will set him in safety and in the salvation for which he pants.

6 The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.

7 You will keep them and preserve them, O Lord; You will guard and keep us from this [evil] generation forever.

8 The wicked walk or prowl about on every side, as vileness is exalted [and baseness is rated high] among the sons of men.

You can't just say everything you're thinking! Words hurt! I know this because there was once a time in my life when I said EVERYTHING I was thinking. And I hurt a lot of dear friends and family. Some of my closest friends are no longer in my life because of this awful habit I had! I enjoyed shocking people with my words. I enjoyed seeing the looks on their faces. Thank God facebook wasn't around back then. I would have probably lost everyone dear to me. It scares me to think of the pain and devastation I could have caused had I shot off my mouth on facebook in those days. 

Psalm 25: 7, 11, 12-14

Amplified Bible (AMP)

7 Remember not the sins (the lapses and frailties) of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your mercy and steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity and my guilt, for [they are] great.

12 Who is the man who reverently fears and worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that he should choose.

13 He himself shall dwell at ease, and his offspring shall inherit the land.

14 The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning.

Psalm 32:1-10

Amplified Bible (AMP)

1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 When I kept silence [before I confessed], my bones wasted away through my groaning all the day long.

4 For day and night Your hand [of displeasure] was heavy upon me; my moisture was turned into the drought of summer. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told]—then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

6 For this [forgiveness] let everyone who is godly pray—pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely when the great waters [of trial] overflow, they shall not reach [the spirit in] him.

7 You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

8 I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

9 Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness.

Psalm 38:1,18

Amplified Bible (AMP)

1 O Lord, rebuke me not in Your wrath, neither chasten me in Your hot displeasure.

18 For I do confess my guilt and iniquity; I am filled with sorrow for my sin.

Thank God, I am no longer that person! I have repented, been disciplined by God, and turned my back on the sins of my youth. Speaking of which... 

"God help me! I don't want to be that person who just gets meaner and meaner as time goes on. Help me to grow up! And act like an adult! An adult who has childlike humility and faith! Help me to consider every word carefully that comes out of my mouth! I want to please You in everything I say and do. I have a loooooooong way to go to be like You, O God. I must keep trying! I must keep marching on to victory! To You be ALL the Glory, Jesus. You have already won the victory over sin, death, and hell. AMEN."