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Written by Francia Oviedo, Creative Assistant with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Honduras
I have heard that women use 20,000 words a day and men 13,000. I can assure you that I hit that mark (haha). Wow, but how many problems have those 20,000 words gotten me into when I don’t use them wisely, when I allow my words to be guided by the flesh and not by the Spirit? This reminds me of Balaam.
Balaam was a words guy, so much so that three chapters are needed in the Bible to tell his story, found in the book of Numbers, chapters 22-24. Balaam was a man known to use his words to bless or curse peoples. He was just the man Balak, the king of Moab, needed in order that his words might be used to curse the people of Israel.
22:5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.” (Num. 22:5-6)
But Balaam pledged to go to that place and do that deed even when God had not allowed it. Such were the circumstances that God had to give him a lesson and make his donkey talk! Finally, Balaam obeyed God and was unable to pronounce any words that God did not allow him to speak.
But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.” (Num. 22:18)
Fortunately, he obeyed and used his words in accordance with God’s will. Instead of cursing the people of Israel, he ended up blessing them three times. Thankfully, God led Balaam to use his words wisely, and we all have that power in our mouths. Most of us use 10,000, 20,000, or even more words per day and, like Balaam, we should seek God’s wisdom to choose well whatever we say.
Every word that comes from our mouths has the power to create, to give life, to encourage, to bless, but also has the power to darken, to discourage, to hurt, to curse others or even ourselves. Proverbs tells us, “The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly” (15:2) and it also says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (18:21).
Like me, I’m sure you can remember a personal story when you used your words in the wrong way, but like Balaam, we always have the opportunity to choose the right words, ones that reflect the love and wisdom of God, ones that create, encourage, and give life. It is a daily choice. I encourage you to remember, the next time you think about how many words you say a day, that you can choose ones that will be a blessing to those around you, and also to yourself.
#IronRoseSister #HIStories #wisdom #words #powerofthetongue #bless #Balaam #guestwriter #blog
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Written by Michelle J. Goff, Director and Founder of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
Originally posted on December 19, 2018
Meditating on Isaiah 9:6, I realized the significance of the fact that the child was born “to us.” It was “to us” a son is given.
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Is. 9:6)
On October 3, 1977, the doctors declared that born to David and Jocelynn Goff was a daughter, whom they named, Michelle Joy Goff.
On November 19, 2018, the judge decreed that to my friends Jeff and Amanda, a son was given, Ezekiel Matthias, “Zeke.”
A child is born to her parents... A son is given in adoption...
In both cases, there was anticipation and rejoicing, intensive labor and sacrifice. Both families have since made sure that these babies would be cared for, protected, and loved.
Child Services and adoption agencies do background checks and other reviews on potential parents and their homes before allowing an adoption to proceed.
However, if the world had been put through the kind of extensive testing that prospective adoptive parents go through while seeking approval to receive a child, we would have failed miserably. “To us,” an unkind, brutal world that would later betray and kill Him on a cross?
Yet God sent His Son...
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Out of love for a dying world, a Savior...
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
Unto you, cruel world, is born a child.
To you, confused people, I have entrusted my innocent baby boy.
And not just any child, not just anyone’s son: God the Father honored us with the gift of His one and only Son. Because this Son had a purpose, embodied by the names these same verses proclaim (Is. 9:6; Luke 2:11; John 3:16):
Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Eternal Life, Savior, Christ the Lord.
God went through an extremely vulnerable moment when He sent His Son to us, as a baby. The plan was perfect, but the plan required a sacrifice in order that we might have the opportunity to be in relationship with the Wonderful Counselor, the Almighty God, our Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, our Savior, Christ the Lord, who is and gives Eternal Life.
Which of these names are you most grateful for?
How does it impact you knowing that “unto us” a child was born, and a son was given?
#IronRoseSister #HIStories #SonofGod #namesofGod #babyJesus #MichelleJGoff #Savior #blog