A gentle tongue [with its healing power] is a tree of life,
but willful contrariness in it breaks down the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4 AMP
Every scripture that I’m getting lately seems to have “Dear Jennifer” in front of it—and this ripper from Proverbs is no exception. The Holy Spirit, in His office of the Spirit of Holiness, knows exactly when, where and how to search out and convict me where I am unsanctified. It is mine to agree with His assessment of me. This isn’t my first trip around the tower of babble and it’s unlikely to be my last. I’m not in charge of my sanctification, and I’m learning ever more painfully that to move outside of the Spirit’s realm is to forfeit grace. Unlike Wile E. Coyote, I don’t recover instantly from a trip off the cliff.
So while it’s clear that the Lord is going to spend some time with me on the power of proclamation, it’s not because He expects me to fix myself. This revelatory seeing is for the purpose of repentance. I can be shown every instance where I cursed myself (or others), but seeing that does not give me the ability to curb future behavior.
“Every city or house divided against itself
shall not stand” (Mt. 12:25 KJV).
I can’t fight myself! I can only put off my old self and put on the new (Eph. 4:22-24). There is no possibility of “reforming” my wicked and willful tongue; it just has to go. Period. Some levels of cursing (dark proclamation) are so habitual to me that I don’t even notice it. I need to be parented and shown where I cling to my old wicked and unredeemable self. I need the bright Light exposing my filthy rags – so that I can take them off.
I can’t fight myself, because that is insane. I can’t fix myself, because a demon wearing a tool belt is still a demon. I can only repent, receive the cleansing of Christ’s Blood, and then put off my old self and put on my glorious new creation. There is a Solution to every dilemma, and by surrendering to be completely His, He is totally mine.
By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth
so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil,
humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.
James 1:18, 21 HCSB
“I can’t fight myself! I can only put off my old self and put on the new (Eph. 4:22-24). There is no possibility of “reforming” my wicked and willful tongue; it just has to go. Period.” This is beginning to be untangled…I am beginning to see the light. The maddening “how to” of “how not too”…the surrendering and being changed vs. trying to understand, fix myself and change. !!
Thank you Tina. You put into words what I could not express. Thank you, Jen for your. Continued transparency In your new found freedom you are freeing others bound by the same chains.