In order to train our tongue, we have to maintain a sound mind. For out of the issues of our heart, the mouth speaks. If we are hurt, we will think critically about the one who hurt us, judging them and being judged with that same measuring stick by our God…or … we might feel so unworthy like we deserve the hurt …or like no one loves us so we need to go eat worms as the childhood song went .. that is what I call a pity party. Been there done that! Who did it help? Not me, and surely not anyone else.
As I abide in the Lord, and He abides in me daily, I have and am still learning that I must practice thinking soundly. I do not have this perfected, as the thoughts can run helter skelter, until I willfully choose to place them where the Lord says. This practice is just like any other practice. To play the piana excellently, I must practice. To sing well, I must practice. To sew beautifully…or cook elegantly…takes practice. I can go on…basketball, baseball, and all sports takes what? practice. Anwered prayer takes practice. Walking the walk and talking the talk takes practice.
My tongue is not and can not be trained by me, but the Holy Spirit in me can straighten my tongue by my practice of a sound mind. Sounds like work huh? It is! It is effort! That’s why the Word says, “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much!” Notice the words, effectual and fervent. That doesn’t sound like a person who throws a little prayer up here or there. That sounds like effort to me! Elijah is the example given for this kind of prayer. He prayed that the rain stop, and it stopped for 3 years. Then He prayed for it to rain, and it did! I believe that is effective prayer! Obviously, Elijah had a sound mind.
The Lord gives us clear instruction for a sound mind, in Galatians 4: 4-9, written by Paul to the Church at Philippi. It is therefore for us today!
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice? Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Paul tells the Church of Galatia, in Galatians 5: 25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Just a few verses above (v. 22-23), he tells us what the fruit of the Spirit is. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there no law.” In Matthew 7, Jesus said that a good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit, then, in v. 20, it says, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
I tried to walk in the Spirit for many years. Some days I would be doing well all the good and right things. Then, I’d explode or just fail miserably. My fruit was definitely questionable. Not until, I began to spend more and more time in the Word every day could I begin to walk that walk I wanted so badly. Then, eight years ago, I began proclaiming the Word for over an hour in agreement with others, and the hearing of the Word out of my mouth and the others with me, did my faith increase to the point of knowing that God hears and answers my prayer because I pray His Word. His Word is what He hears and acts on.
Our mind is a battle field. Our enemy wants our minds! He wants us to dwell on the meditate on things that are harmful, hurtful, critical, judgmental, mean, sad, hopeless, helpless, dark, etc., he wants us to give all that time to him and his kingdom. Sound minds are part of our salvation package. Our redeemer not only forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases, but the chastisement of our peace is on Him. He wants us to prosper as our soul prospers. Our soul is our mind and will. Psalm 103 begins, “Bless the Lord, O my soul..” David’s spirit is speaking to his mind and will — and saying Bless the Lord! Out of the issues of our heart, we speak. Therefore, the issues of our heart — the meditations of our heart and mind — must be stayed on Him!
Let us therefore, this very day, truly speak aloud to our minds and say, “I’m not going there!” Every time we are tempted to dwell on hurts, pain, sin, perversion, anger, mean, or any thoughts that are not only not right but cause us to be sick and miserable. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine is a Proverb to guard your heart with. Rejoicing always, praising and having a grateful heart all the time take work …they take effort…but we are new creatures according to the Word. As our thoughts are aright, as we meditate on the Word, our mouth comes in line and speaks things that are not as though they are as our Father does. Our bodies line up…all resentment, and bitterness, etc., left behind…confessed and under the blood of Jesus not to be returned to ever again. And, thus, we begin to live the abundant life that our Lord has promised us.
We do what He has said to do in order to receive what He has told us we can have! Glory to God! We’re on our way!!! The Bride is getting her act together to meet her Lord!!! Amen and Amen!
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