EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS: CURSING and CUSSING

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS: CURSING and CUSSING

“In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” – James 3:5-10 (NLT)

I often mention how parents talk to, or communicate with their children, for what they teach and tell them in their childhood, lay the foundation for what they feel about themselves in their adulthood and most often continues in the way they rear their own children. Our self-confidence, peace of mind, and faith in God, ALL hang on the words we hear, for “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Speaking what God says about us, about our lives, who He says we are, overcomes/trumps the words & opinions of man. Sometimes, we tend to endure lots of struggle & pain in consequences and trials we face, and such pains are often prolonged and magnified, for some of us have no one we feel we can confide in aside from the Lord, whether we’re right or wrong. The Word says, “Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” – (James 5:14) In this manner, we obtain intercession from like-minded believers. Personally, I've been on the side of being reclusive more than simply stating, “I’m going through… pray for me.” Often feeling that because I couldn't talk to/confide in those who personally knew my struggles/issues, those closest to me, that no one else would be non-judgmental, or condescending in listening. I’m one of those people, like many that doesn’t deal well with negativity, for I believe every Word of God, and live by faith. It’s written, “A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” – (Prov. 18:20-21) That which we speak, we reap. Therefore, what we speak over another’s life, has an affect on their minds, hearts and ultimately their mental, emotional and spiritual peace, and can often cause one to slip, stumble and fall into temptation, leading them to sin. In the above passage of scripture we read about the tongue, that blessing and cursing should not proceed from the same mouth. First of all, understand that there’s a difference between “cursing” and “cussing.”… “Cursing” would be speaking/declaring something over someone’s life that’s any thin g less than what God says they are. For example, telling someone be it man, woman or child, what they cannot do, will not do, or never will be able to do, when the Word says, “ALL things are possible to them that believe.” That would be cursing someone… ”Cussing” however, not giving it an excuse by any means, would be profane/vulgar language, which still isn’t right/fair, for the scripture states, “Let no filthy communication proceed from your mouth.” In each of our lives, we need those “real friends” that stick closer than brothers, that we can talk to, or confide in about anything. This is the lesson I've learned, and I thank God for the brothers & sisters-in-Christ, the close friends, that I didn’t know I had.. I love you all. For through effective communication, we receive the benefits of one another’s prayers, building up and encouraging one another through the uncompromised Word of God.