“I can’t stay silent
Though they want to keep me quiet…”
One morning our youngest was rendering a Tully version of this Aladin song as her voice was competing with the gushing of water from her shower. What I mean… she was proud and loud in her performance.
Zechariah couldn’t sing this song, or any other one for 9 months while baby John was in Elizabeth’s womb. God silenced him because of his lack of faith. Speechless for approximately 270 days… Can’t even imagine giving my husband such a break.
After having his mouth in time-out for 9 months, we see a marvellous contrast between his last words questioning God and the after words… “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.” Luke 1:64 NIV
It made me ponder upon how I unleash my mouth each morning after a seven-hour quieted tongue (exception to my kids who talk even in their sleep).
I have two wishes regarding my mouth this year. (Make it three… “I also want for Christmas my two side teeth” 😊 )
I wish to be speechless when my words don’t build others up.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 2:49 NIV
One of the idols of my heart is “productivity”. I love my lists. I love checking them off. I love moving fast, ’cause you get more things done.
I realize I go a thousand miles an hour when my mouth runs before me. I praise less, and demand more. I offend rather than encourage. I state what needs improvement, rather than celebrate progress.
I pray that my gentle and lowly words will be the gift my family will unwrap this Christmas and that my “fast and furious” ones will go in time-out.
I wish to not stay speechless about praising God.
We have a tradition of opening our Christmas stockings with one family member the week prior to Christmas. While visiting with her, she shared about her friend who got the news of pancreatic cancer. Only months to live.
What if we lived our days as if we’re running out of time!? What changes would I make regarding my tongue? My sharing the good news?
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV
I want to be more intentional in having faith conversations with those God puts in my way. And I want my daily heart to reflect an attitude of praising Jesus and others, and not go by default into the drippy-faucet mode.
Gypsy Smith, a great evangelist said once from the pulpit “My heart is in my mouth”.
What’s been coming out of my mouth recently?
What’s in my mouth will reflect my heart. I’m choosing this year to not feel guilty to silence our activities, our busyness and the commercial noises around us to put my mouth in time-out so I can evaluate what my heart is hosting.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.” Psalm 95:1-2 NIV