Rehearsal Time - Jessica Shipp
“The next time he does that I’m gonna do something he won’t soon forget.”
“She makes me so mad that I could just punch her.” “If you kids don’t cut it out, I’ll knock you into next week.”
We have all heard someone say or have ourselves said something that we don’t intend to act upon. But why would we say something we don’t mean? Most of the time we quickly forget what we said or thought, but what damage have we caused? I have started thinking about this more and have become more aware of it after I heard a phrase in a sermon last year. The phrase was “don’t rehearse evil.” DON’T REHEARSE EVIL. You might be thinking it’s not that bad, it’s not evil because they or I didn’t mean it. If it’s not Phillipians 4:8 worthy it’s evil. If it’s not righteous it’s evil. The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” and in Matthew 12:34b, “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” What is in our hearts? God destroyed all of mankind with the Flood because “…every imagination of the THOUGHTS of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5b) What is in the heart will eventually spill forth to our mouths. “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” Psalm 34:13 We need to be on guard for even the tiniest splinter of evil. How do we keep those thoughts and words of destruction from forming?
Purpose to love others. 1 Corinthians 13:5 says that charity “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;”
Walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
Seek the Lord. Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
I am making myself be attentive to the speech in my household. I am correcting wrong choices of words and examining the cause behind them. Even if it is just in jest, I choose to not allow it. “ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 Please be mindful in your home of what’s being said for “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37 I know this is a big challenge, but women are the sprit of the home. What is your home’s spirit? I pray you find this helpful and root for all ladies to build righteous homes. “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Proverbs 31:26 “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” Proverbs 14:1