A Phrase can Change Everything

A Phrase can Change Everything

From time to time the Lord will drop into my heart a phrase that compels me to focus on a particular area of my life. The first one I received was about 12 years ago and was simple and easy to understand: "Keep your mouth shut." This phrase was paramount in my learning to have restraint when advising my young adult sons. Now, I believe I'm like most mothers as I struggle with knowing when to offer advice and when to keep quiet. It's just not as easy as it sounds, is it? And like most mothers, I did not realize that some of the things I was saying were doing more harm than good. I thought if I could just help my sons understand how they were hurting themselves and their future, and of course me, they would 'see the light' and change their behavior. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it? Exactly! Reason and logic will sometimes do more damage than we could ever imagine.

Galatians 6:8 - For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Because we want so much to spare our children unnecessary pain and suffering, we can often be shaken by fear into believing the lies of the enemy. Once we have considered and believed the lie, it's down hill from there. We begin to sow to our own flesh. From the fear deep within us we spout forth destructive council that, while sounding wise and logical, will ultimately reap decay and ruin. We try to reason and persuade our children into 'seeing' things from our perspective, yet the frightening reality is that if we are successful, it is to our own glory. The situation may look better right away, and you may feel better for having spoken your mind, but don't be deceived, it will be only temporal. The temporary peace is not true peace. If we have given council apart from the leading of the Holy Spirit, and they heed this council, we have destined our children for sure defeat in the matter, and ourselves to prolonged grieving over their future.

In addition to our grief, we will also be held accountable for our careless words (the flesh cannot produce things of the spirit) and thus the hindering of God's will for our children. Yes, our unbelief can and does hinder God's will for our children. That's why the lunatic son's father asked Jesus to help his unbelief; Jesus was willing to heal his son, yet, He required of the father to answer this question first, "...Can you believe?"

The Word of God spoken in faith, at the leading of the Holy Spirit, are the only words that have eternal value. And, as with all sowing and reaping, the harvest is not immediate. In order to reap Spiritual fruit this time next year, next month, next week, tomorrow, we must sow Spiritual seed today. In most cases, we will be better off next year, next month, next week, tomorrow, if we just 'keep our mouths shut' today. Instead of believing the lies of the enemy, we can begin today believing the Truth of what God's Word says concerning our children. We can agree with the Word, today, and reap an awesome harvest down the road, all to the glory of God.

The next time you find yourself giving council to your adult children, stop, pray. Pray with them; pray for them, but don't let another suggestion, regardless of how reasonable or logical it may sound, leave your lips without first lining it up with the Word of God. As parents, we are to follow the example of the lunatic's father. We must first find Jesus and realize our total helplessness without Him. Then with arms wide open, we are to lay our children at His feet, and ask the Lord to help our unbelief.

God may tell you, like He's told me many times, sweetly, but honestly, 'Keep your mouth shut.'

James 1:19 - Understand this, my beloved brethren, Let every man be quick to hear (a ready listener), slow to speak...