Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

I had just gotten up and began getting ready for the day. Though I was greeting and talking with the Lord, thanking Him for the day ahead, my mind kept trying to skip over to a problem I had been thinking about the night before. I was asking the Lord to help me with an issue I needed to deal with and the conversation I needed to have with someone to resolve it. Suddenly the Lord brought a verse to my heart. Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” 

I could hear the Lord speak to my heart.  He said, I don’t want you to have that conversation. There are times when some things are better left unspoken. It was so simple and gave me such clear direction. I knew the Lord was telling me to overlook this situation and let it go. I knew it was going to help me and protect me in more ways than I could foresee. 

When I think of all the basic biblical life-application lessons I have studied over the years, I’ve probably spent more time studying the importance of right-thinking and the words we speak than anything else. In my view, it is the place where people hurt others and get hurt the most. If only the old saying, Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me were true. It’s one of the most untrue expressions that has ever been passed along in life. Words damage people, and some so badly that they never fully recover. God tells us that learning to communicate effectively is what makes us perfect, complete, and mature. James 3:2 NIV says, “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” Far too many people blurt out whatever comes to mind. Those people fall into the Not Too Bright category! The opposite of that is where wisdom lies.

Our refrigerator dispenses water and, because it does, has a water filter. We actually have two filters if Jesus is the Lord of our life. We have the filter of the Holy Spirit working with our spirit on what to say and what not to say. And every person has a conscience. If they don’t know the Lord, their conscience has been trained by this world and life’s experiences. But, if a person is saved and has the Holy Spirit, then you have the filter of God—the Holy Spirit, and you have the filter of your human conscience, which may have received better all-around training because of your Christian life and the perspectives that go with it.

Some people have little to no conscience because they do not know God, and they’ve had a horrible home life with destructive family, friends, or associations. Thus, they live lazy, destructive, or evil lives, which basically leaves them with no filter over their thoughts and words. That has never been God’s plan!

There is much that passes through our thought-life filter that we should never say. Proverbs 14:3 (NLT) “A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, but the words of the wise keep them safe.” 

As you learn God’s Word, the Holy Spirit gives you discernment that teaches and guides you to cast down wrong thoughts and restrain wrong thinking and damaging words.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV) says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” It is only then that your mind, thoughts, and words work in harmony to speak words that produce life and blessing. This process protects us from the danger spoken of in Proverbs 29:20 NLT  “There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.”

Words, opinions, random thoughts—the mind is filled with them. People think Social Media is a license to vomit and broadcast any thoughts they think. It’s hurt our world! God’s word teaches us the critical need for retraining our thoughts and our tongues. God will help us discern what is appropriate to say from what we should never say and even what to cast out of our thought-life. This is true for every part of our lives, every person, and every relationship. As a Christian, if you pay attention, you’ll feel that warning nudge when you are about to say what you shouldn’t. You need to learn to pay attention to it, pause, and get God’s heart and direction in times like that. It will save you and others from so much heartache.

As we heed His advice, we become more and more mature and complete—“the perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” He helped me walk closer to that goal this morning. He guided me through what I should and shouldn’t say! Thank you Lord!

Proverbs 13:3 (MSG)  “Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything.” 

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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