Devo for 07/06/2025 service- Message by Pastor Clint Sprague
As we are hiking through the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Clint reminded us that this sermon reflects the values of Heaven and the Heart of God. Out of this week's scripture, Matthew 5:33-37, he laid out three points:
Our words matter,
Integrity of the heart and our life is MOST important
We must be faithfully truthful with our words.
As we saw, the Old Testament has a lot to say about our words. Proverbs 18:21 was significant to me as I listened to the message:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”
When we read that verse, most of us think about our own words, which is good! Knowing we will eat the fruit of our words makes me want to speak good words!
We need to be careful with the words we speak for another reason. They affect others! Words spoken over us can cause life (lift us up) or death (beat us down). Positive words spoken over us have shaped our lives. But so have negative words. Men, we must realize that many of our “issues” come from being on the receiving end of negative words spoken over us in the past. Words that wounded us or caused us to believe a lie.
We may not even realize that our defensiveness comes from being told we are not good enough when we were young, or we condemn ourselves because we had someone significant in our lives who continually berated and humiliated us with words. Maybe you speak words over yourself sometimes in front of people that are not healthy. All of these are examples of how words can affect us in a way that results in hurts and wounds.
If you find that words spoken over you have caused hurts or wounds, run to God and work through it! Find a trustworthy friend to walk alongside as you are reconciled back to God. Seek out a program that can help you overcome these words (Kairos, Celebrate Recovery, Speak to a Pastor or Mentor, etc.). The healing is powerful when you overcome these words!
I also want to encourage you to spend time with the Father, and have him show you people who have spoken words of LIFE over you. Maybe your parents took time to bless you often. A coach encouraged you to work harder because he saw something in you. A friend who spoke what he sees in you, even when you couldn’t see it yourself.
The fact is, we tend to remember the bad stuff over the good. But that is a choice! Make a declaration today that you are going to focus on the words of LIFE and use this to overcome the evil that is trying to tear you down!
While you are at it, take the time to ask God if there is anyone in your life who needs to hear “Words of Life.” If so, ask Him to give you those words and then share them! Your obedience will bless someone's day!
Don’t forget to invite God into your day!
Topic for Study
Courage
1 Corinthians 16:13
1 Thessalonians 5:14
1 Chronicles 28:20
July Memory Verse:
Ephesians 5:21
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”