"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."
Proverbs 31:26
Are you like me and somedays forget about this verse? Perhaps you let something unwise or unkind roll off your tongue that you regretted as soon as it came out? I am thankful for this reminder in the Bible, because I know that women benefit from the wise instruction in it.
There are so many things that can cause a women to say unwise things. I have realized, (especially when I was young mother) if I am not taking every thought captive to Jesus Christ that I am easy prey to failing in this area--and I know that many of you would agree with me! Our minds can delve deep into the muck and mire of ungodly thinking if we are not on our toes and on guard.
But what is being entertained in the heart?
"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45.
Here are some examples of thinking that get us off the path:
"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45.
Here are some examples of thinking that get us off the path:
1. He makes me so mad, Lord, why am I married to Him?
2. Lord you have given me too much to do with the children and the house--I can't handle all this.
3. We never have enough money ( then become fearful of the future-which might lead to arguing with husbands, getting upset at the children or at God).
When instead we need to think:
1. God, thank you for my husband, he is not perfect and neither am I. Thank you for the opportunity to show your grace to him during difficult times. (Ephesians 4:32) Help me to love him the way you loved me especially when I was unlovable.
2. Lord, thank you for my children and home. There are others out there who give their left arm for what I have. I refuse to believe the lies of thinking I can't handle this. You have equipped me and I trust you. I know that you are by my side and that I can handle all things through you. (Phillipians 4:13) I will take the day slowly, patiently, and wisely, not looking at other homes or comparing myself to other moms--just following your lead every step of the way.
3. God is my provider and I will trust in His provision. He always provides for me and I will trust in Him. (Psalm 23:1) Satan wants me fearful, he wants to disarm me as a mother and get me focused on my fear so that I cannot function well in my home and even allow it to hinder my relationships in my family. I will not let fear or Satan immobilize me, but will trust God with the future for He is my provider and owns a cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10)
Dear ladies, it is SO important to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)! Wrong thinking can plant bad seed into our hearts. The flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41) and Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). This means he hates you, your children, your marriage, your home and your attempts to leave a godly heritage and will use any open door in your life to sneak his way in to do his dirty work. We are protected as we use the Word of God as a shield to our minds, our hearts, and to our home. We need to identify when we are even thinking wrong thoughts and filter all thinking though the grid of Scripture.
The danger of not taking every thought captive is insurmountable. Wives stray from their husbands, homes, and from their God as a result of entertaining ungodly thoughts and need to be brought back to the proper thinking in truth (practicing sober-mindedness-Titus 2:3-5) and the reality and power of God's Word.
As we learn to think righteously-- we replace our old thinking with the new and our old way of talking with "speaking with wisdom, and faithful instruction" on our tongues. In this, we can be...
a light on a hill,
a woman who builds up,
teaching the younger women through our example,
and be found faithful rightly raising up the next generation of godly seed.
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11 comments:
Thank you for the encouragement!
Blessings.
The three examples you listed are the three that the enemy has been using against me. With three little ones (5, 3, and 1 years old) and a husband who was laid off from his job 18 months ago it has been really hard, but I trust the Lord. Today He renewed my strength. Thank you for your post for He has also used it to strengthen me.
Jill,
I am happy to share! I remember stumbling on great blogs like Homeliving and LAF and being challenged and encouraged in my own walk--so glad to be able to do it for others. Hope you visit again soon!
Many blessings...
HardestyMom01,
You are not alone, there are many woman who struggle with this type of thinking and even on a daily basis. God's word is clear about putting on the armor of God for protection--something I cannot emphasize enough! Protecting ourselves with truth is vitally important to our spiritual health.
You are wise to trust the Lord. I am praying for you and your situation. Know that you are not a bad mom, just a HUMAN mom who struggles with all the same weaknesses everyone else has. God's grace and mercy is continually lavished and extended to us all. John 3:16
Many blessings...
The Lord has brought me so far from being a negative nellie in my thought life to where I am today- but still, holding every thought captive to the obedience of Christ must be a daily (and hourly) choice. Otherwise, I begin to slip back into old patterns if left unchecked!
This is something that I've been struggling with recently, and the Lord's been showing me that emotions/thoughts are as much a matter of discipline as any other area of life. Thanks for tackling the topic. :)
Thank you SO much for this wise counsel! I *really* needed to hear these words today - I had sent a very angry e-mail off to my husband at work (not something I do often *at all*) and actually apologized, via e-mail and in person as soon as he got home. It was lovely for our son to see me apologizing and asked me 'why' and I got to tell him why.
And then I read your blog - so insightful! Were you in my home today :)
Blessings to you, your atheist friend, Mrs. C.
So good, June. Thank you.
Our Bible study went well. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for the book, June. It has blessed me tremendously.
Much love,
Jasmine
Thank you for the reminder and the encouragement.
Thank you so much for this timely post, as I have been struggling greatly with some of these very thoughts. I so desire a Godly, pure heart that speaks with an abundance of good, yet so often find myself struggling with a heart full of muck and mire instead. Yuck!
I wish I had heeded this wise instruction when I was a young wife and mother, what a difference it makes to know now!
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