Surrendering to the Work of the Master Artist in our Lives I recently had a conversation with a dear friend and young woman whom I have loved and mentored in the ministry and life. She came back to Baton Rouge and spent the week with us as she ministered to children in our church at VBS. It was wonderful to hear how the Lord has opened up opportunities for her to use her gifts in her new ministry in North Carolina. It was exciting to think that my investment in her life helped to equip her to now invest in the lives of many children and adults as she leads others into the heart of the Father in worship. She has been faithful to serve the Lord and body of Christ with the tremendous gifts she has been given in music, drama, and dance. We never know how our words will impact another. As I shared with her some of my heart and concerns about my future, she said, “It doesn’t matter what you do or where you are, you will have an influence because you taught me who I am in Christ and you will do the same for whoever your life rubs against…. wherever God leads you.” Isn’t that like the Lord to turn around and bless your life by someone you poured your own life into just when you need it! It was such a beautiful reminder to me of the power of our words! Of course, many of the words I spoke into her life were words of truth that another had poured into mine. Her story has become part of my story and now Jesus has woven it into a multitude of lives. Our relationships, the words spoken, the transforming of our minds by His truth are all part of God’s story in our lives, like a beautiful tapestry woven together. I'm so grateful for her encouraging words when I needed to hear them.  As Jesus transforms us into the masterpiece He has in mind, He will give us words of life. Words have power. They can build or destroy, heal or hurt, inspire or discourage. God created with words. In Genesis 1:3 He said, “Let there be light,” and it was so. Jesus is described as “the Word.” In this series as we seek to discover how Jesus transforms us into the Masterpiece He created us to be it is vital that we bathe ourselves in the Word of life. As we submit ourselves to God and fill our mind and heart with His Word, His truth becomes a part of us. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out to the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45 Consider the Scriptures about the tongue below: The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life. Proverbs 15:4 The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. Isaiah 50:4 The tongue has the power of life and death. Proverbs 18:21 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 The life of Moses demonstrates how God can change the way an ordinary person speaks, thinks, sees and feels. When we yield our ordinary vessels into the hands of an extraordinary God amazing things can happen! God can train our tongues to speak with redemptive words as we yield to His guidance and bring glory to His name. Consider the words of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” Later in v. 14 Paul gives us specific instructions to warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak and be patient with everyone.  God has a Word for us and for the varying needs of His people. We will be called to speak different ways to different individuals at different times, depending on the state of their heart and God’s direction. All of our words must be seasoned with grace, filled with patience and rely on God’s power and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is the faithful, prayerful study of Scripture that will prepare and train our mouths to be used as God’s servants and instruments for His glory. Prayer for the Word O Holy God, write Your Word on the tablet of my life. May it flood my heart and shine its light of truth into every dark corner of my conscience. May it enlighten my eyes and be the filter through which I see all things. May it fill my mind so that all of my thoughts will be captive to obedience to Christ. May it direct my steps into Your good, pleasing and perfect will. May it guide my hands into the work of the ministry. May it guard the doorway of my life so that all of my comings and goings may pass under the scrutiny of Your divine wisdom. May Your Word, O God, be the constant employer of my spirit, soul and body. (Deuteronomy 11:18-21) In Jesus Holy Name, Amen I’ve included below some Scriptures that have encouraged me as I have sought truth to meditate on. As we seek to speak words of life it is critical to fill our minds and spirits with God's Words of Life. I’ve only listed one verse as a reference for each topic out of countless verses available to you in Scripture. It could be that the Lord wants to speak something into your life through one or more of these verses or He may be preparing you to speak it into the life of another. If a verse or topic resonates with your heart then meditate on it in the days ahead. You may want to explore a topic in greater depth as the Lord leads you. My prayer is that these verses will strengthen and encourage you in your faith journey and transform your mouth to speak His truth into the lives of those He has chosen to weave into the tapestry of your life. You are an important part of God's story! Please take a moment and listen to this beautiful song by Keith and Kristyn Getty to prepare your heart for the transforming and restoring work the Father wants to do by the power of His Word.
Speak, O Lord! Kathy  If you would like to receive the "Monday Musings" RESTORE blog each week via email, please sign up and enter your email address in the upper right hand corner. Instantly a box will appear for you to type in the security letters as you see them and press "submit." It will tell you that you need to go to your email inbox and click the link to verify/activate. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE NEXT STEP TO RECEIVE THE BLOG!
Scripture images from Pinterest. Prayer by Ruth Meyers.
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