If you’re like me, you can’t help but notice that there are a lot of miserable Christians in this world. They hate their jobs. They hate their lives. And, although they profess to be Christians, their prayers aren’t being answered. They never seem to have a good day and they’re always sick.
We have all seen Christians like this. And although they could, most will never do anything about their misery and unhappiness. If they would only seek the face of God they could walk out of their misery into victory. But, for some reason they would rather murmur and complain than pick up a bible and search it for answers. If they did search it for answers they’d find out that most of their misery and unhappiness starts with what is coming out of their mouths.
What is coming out of your mouth? Is your mouth getting you into trouble with God? Let’s not end up like those I mentioned above. Let’s study these scriptures (1st Peter 3:10-12) to see how our mouths can get us into trouble and how obeying God’s Word will get us out!
Refrain from Speaking Evil
1st Peter 3:10
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.
As you can see from reading this verse what we say is of the utter most importance. If we want to live happy, healthy lives, we need to stay aware of what is coming out of our mouths. Many may not realize it but what we say has a lot to do with the way we feel. If you’re always having a bad day and don’t ever feel well, maybe its because evil communication is coming out of your mouth. (See also Ephesians 4:29)
Let’s say for instance, you’re telling dirty jokes to your friends and family, even your coworkers. This is evil communication and its wrong. It’s wrong because it opens the door for more evil communication. Others will go tell the same joke you told them and it just keeps on going. Same way with emails. If you get a dirty email and you forward it to your friends and your friends in turn forwards it to their friends, it just keeps on going. Pretty soon that email has come full circle right back to you. See how easy it is to communicate evil.
You may say, well, I never tell a dirty joke. That’s well and good. But, do you speak evil of people? Do you make remarks that you know isn’t right? Do you get in on the gossip at church? Are you one of the first ones to say, guess what I heard? Well, this is just as bad as telling a dirty joke. Sin is sin. And sin will take you to hell. But not only will sin take you to hell, it will make you miserable here on earth. Don’t expect to feel good and enjoy life when you’re hanging out with the devil everyday.
Remember…
If you’re having a bad day, maybe it was something you said. Remember the verse above. If you want to love life and see good days, speak no evil! Your words will either make or break your day!
Another thing, maybe if some of you would quit hanging out with satan, you’d quit talking like him! Just a thought!
Avoid Evil
1st Peter 3:11
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
The above verse tells us that we need to eschew evil. Eschew simply means to ‘avoid’. We need to avoid evil at all costs. If all your best friend does is talk about people, murmur and complain about everything and everyone, you need to avoid them. I don’t care if they are your best friend. The bible tells us to abstain from the very appearance of evil. (1st Thessalonians 5:22)
If you have gossiping friends and you choose to hang out with them, it will effect your walk with the Lord more than you think.
Remember…
If you hang out with the wrong crowd, you’re going to start talking and acting like the wrong crowd.
We Need To Do Good
The above verse also tells us to do good. If you know someone who is sick offer to wash their dishes or help them with their shopping. Maybe you need to visit someone in the hospital. Just do something nice for someone. Acts 10:38 tells us that Jesus went about doing good. So, that means we need to be out and about doing good! We all need to be about our Father’s business just as Jesus was. (Luke 2:49)
Be a Peacemaker
Nothing is more aggravating and more draining than being around a bunch of folks who fight and bicker all the time. They’re the same ones I have been talking about throughout this article. All they do is murmur and complain about everything. You’ll have to agree that these types of people are never happy. They’re always upset about something and stay in constant turmoil. Well, God doesn’t want us to be in turmoil. He wants us to be at peace.
Matthew 5:9 says it best.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Remember…
If you want to be called a Child of God, walk in peace and be a peacemaker.
Do You Want Your Prayers Answered?
Of course, we all do! Well then, let’s find out how!
1st Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Brothers and sisters if you’re constantly talking down on others, the face of God is against you. If you want God to watch over you and you want His ears open unto your prayers, watch what you say. When you talk down on others you’re not only hurting them; you’re hurting yourself as well. Our own lives are greatly impacted by what we say about others.
Remember…
We learned in verse 10, We can make or break our day by what we say.
In Closing,
If you’re having a bad day today, think about it, did you say something bad about someone? Did you speak evil against that person? Were you involved in foolish jesting, such as telling dirty jokes etc.? If so, stop right here and now, and repent. Your day will go a lot better and your future will be much brighter! Don’t give place to the devil. If you give him a place he’ll move in!
