Is your mouth saved?

BY: Joyce Meyer

(notes from her conference on 3/17)

Hey folks! This will be a two part devotional from the notes I took at Joyce Meyer’s conference when she was in Winston. Please take the time and look over these scripture references.

Proverbs 21:23- “The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”

· Are you a good representative of God?

· How many of your problems are a result of your own words? Really start listening to the words you say and the death you speak over your life.

· Are you commonly saying these words: “hate”, “death”, “crazy”, “sick”, “tired”? Examples: “I HATE this weather”; “I almost laughed to death!”; “This woman is driving me CRAZY!”; “He makes me SICK”; “I am SO tired”.

o If this is what dominates your vocabulary then no wonder your life is filled with many issues. Even if these things are said “lightheartedly” and “jokingly”, our words still have power. They create an environment. Be mindful.

· God has entrusted us with words and they are powerful! You can hurt or help your future with the words you choose day. So do like Paul says in Phil. 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

· STOP COMPLAINING! Talk about something wonderful instead! Remember what God has done that is great! Stir one another up about the great things that God has done in our lives!

· Complaining is a sin! When you complain, you remain. There’s no forward progress, you are just in that situation, not moving. But if you notice in the Bible, praise always precedes progress! Cover your prayers with praise on one side and thanksgiving on the other side (Like a sandwich)!

· If you’re complaining about what you have, why should God bless you with more things to complain about?

· Complaining opens the door for the enemy. It allows the enemy to come more into your life. Exodus 15:24; 16:2-3:

o So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”

o ² In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. ³ The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”

o The people forgot God had parted the Red Sea and they forgot all God had done! In the midst of problems, stop and remember what God has done. Don’t mumble and grumble! There’s always someone who wants to be in your place!

· Don’t despise small beginnings. Remain thankful! It develops Godly character! Not in the career you want to be in right now? Didn’t go to the school you wanted to attend? Whatever the issue, just be thankful!

· Your goal should be to become the most thankful person on earth. May sound silly, but why not? Think about it, if you’re always thankful, you would have nothing to complain about! The more positive you are, the happier you’ll be.

· Also, if you appreciate something someone does for you, open your mouth and thank them!

· A miserable Christian is an oxymoron. It’s impossible! Change the way you talk! We need to stay amazed at God.

· God is looking for worshippers who worship! Its who they are! Not what they do!

· Exodus 17:3: “

· Numbers 21:4-7

· Don’t wait until trouble comes to realize we have sinned. When we turn against God, we open ways for the enemy. 1 Corinthians 10:8-11 This story is in the new testament to remind us what not to do. We don’t need to repeat the same complaining the Israelites did.

· So what are you actually saying about the Lord? Pslam 91: 2? I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

· In Malachi, they were saying the wrong things. Malachi 3:13-16. While you are waiting, don’t complain.

· God hears every word we say! Find decent things to say if you want your life blessed! For problems say: I know it’s hard, but God has a plan for this. I just want to keep a positive attitude while I go through it.

· 2 Chronicles 20:22. Praise confuses the enemy. In the text, the enemy killed themselves because they were confused.

Action Plan: Commit to a 30 day fast of no complaining! A Word Fast! No complaining! You need to be the person that people won’t even go to with mumblings or complaints. Complaining weakens, praise strengthens. Just because you feel like complaining, practice the words you know God want you to say.

Prayer: God, thank you for such a convicting teaching. It’s so easy to complain and sometimes I don’t realize I’m doing so. Please allow me to be conscious of when I start complaining and allow me to take the message from this teaching and apply it strategically to my life specifically. Lord I really love you and want to improve daily in any area that I can. Today I want to take charge of my mouth and become more mindful of what I say so that I can better represent you and myself. God I need your help with this! It’s easy to say I’m going to do something, but It’s a completely different story to follow through! Lord I love you! Thank you for your help! You are amazing! In Jesus name, Amen.