The Spirit Gives Us Creative Life-Giving Words

(The meditation on Matthew 12:22 begins at 6:01.)
On using words to light a fires of inspiration and joy, not devastation, as the Apostle James describes!

Words—can inspire, set us on fire, delight…

They can also "set the whole course of one's life on fire," as the Apostle James dramatically says, destroying precious friendships and relationships.

How do we ensure our words bring light, not darkness? We need the Scriptural promise in Ezekiel of the new heart and the new spirit. We need a flooding of the Spirit making all things new within us, with his fruits of love, joy peace, gentleness, and wisdom. A new personality!!

We can accelerate this life-changing experience of the Spirit through ancient practices like breath prayers, breathing out our stress, breathing in prayer like "Come Holy Spirit." Through practices like taking a longish pause before we respond with negative or critical words or emails. Breath prayers and meditation calm and alter our entire neurology, helping us speak words which bring light, not devastation!!

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Transcript

The Spirit Helps Us Speak Creative Words of Energy and Life

Matthew tells us: Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”  Matthew 12: 22-24

Demonic activity robbed the man of sight and speech. And Jesus, 

whom the Apostle John calls the Word, restored speech to him.

In Genesis, God’s first words, Let there be light create beauty

and life. And Satan’s deceitful words cause sadness and strife.

Our words too can be creative, bringing energy, inspiration and joy

or destructive, bringing discouragement, defeat, and misery:

word-swords which cut down, millstones which grind down.

The Apostle James writes, Consider what a great forest is set on fire

by a small spark. The tongue also can set the whole course of one’s life on fire.

Fire! I’ve seen people lose precious friendships and relationships 

through angry words and emails. I have done so myself.  

So how do we use our words to bring light, energy and life, 

not darkness and heaviness? We must pray for the promise

in Ezekiel, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit 

in you.” “The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon

you, and you will be changed into a different person,” Samuel

promises Saul. ‘And God changed Saul’s heart,” we are told. Just like that.

The Spirit comes when we are hungry and we ask for him,

Jesus says, and he changes our mind, emotions, and spirit. For

He is, as the prophet Isaiah writes, the Spirit of wisdom,

of understanding and knowledge. His fruits are love, joy, peace,

 patience, kindness, faithfulness and self-control. A new personality.

We can accelerate our experience of the Spirit through the ancient

practice of breath prayers as we go about our errands, housework,

gardening, and walks. Exhale: “Lord, I confess my anger and faithless

stress.” Inhale, “Come Holy Spirit of peace.” Exhale, “Lord,

I give you my turbulence.” Inhale, “Come, Holy Spirit of wisdom.”    

Use simple practices to control your words. I’ve started using a

count-up timer when I am feeling critical and naggy in family life, 

waiting seven minutes before I speak, which, then, I often don’t. 

I now take 24 hours before responding to stressful emails. 

The Spirit may graciously fill us in response to our prayers

faster than we imagine. God blessed Aaron’s staff in the Book

of Numbers; it budded, blossomed, and bore fruit overnight.

Come Holy Spirit, fire of energy and love, change us. Amen.