Back To Speed – March 13, 2023 (80/365) – JB's Personal Brain Defragmenter

From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,

but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;

he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Proverbs 13:2-3

We would do well to watch what we say, especially now that the privilege of being able to speak and be heard is extended to a whole lot more people than ever before. I tell folks that the older they get, the bigger the consequences and the rewards of their actions would be; it’s the same thing with mere words. Our words bear fruit, and as this proverb goes, we’re the ones who would eat the fruit more often than not.

But it still remains the same ideal, the last time I went through this proverb, and today – if we want a quick guideline as to what it means to watch what we say, we can sum it all up by saying: Less talk, less mistake, more talk, more mistake. Be deliberate in the words that you don’t say, just as much as you are intentional in the words you say. Don’t be so reckless in saying whatever is in your mind, or whatever your emotions bring you to blurt out at any given moment. Oftentimes it’s not about keeping ‘less talk, less mistake’ in mind, more than just that – being mindful about what you say. Giving thought to what you say before you say it. Thinking of what it means to you and to other people who hear you. It’s in this manner that we demonstrate that we preserve our lives by preserving how we speak.

Again, I think this is more important now than ever, especially with more mouths we hear, and with more ears to hear us, whether it be online or face to face. Though our words in Christ are words of life, I’ve observed how sometimes it’s just best to communicate by other means, and not necessarily with our mouths, or our typing. The world may have the privilege of speaking and being consequently heard, but we in the body of Christ have the privilege of holding our peace, just as Christ is our peace. Thus, we are protected – by silence, preventing us from ruin, or by beholding the consequences of others as they ruin themselves or others.

To be honest, I think that if we’re to be talking, it’ll probably be more with our God than anyone else. It’s refreshing to know that through Christ we can, indeed, run boldly to the throne of grace, with the expectation that the Creator of the Universe, the One beyond our own definitions of power and wisdom – we can expect Him to listen, and to respond; and we can trust Him, for our lives to be preserved, and our beings to be far away from ruin.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Proverbs 13:4

This hits me hard right now, considering that I have a lot of items to write about, a lot of tasks I’ve been holding off on doing; I mean, it’s not that I’m a sluggard – Or maybe I am, if a description of a sluggard is one choosing to be busy over inefficient and low-value habits that would even sabotage their time and power… but I do get where the writer of this Proverb says that he ‘craves and gets nothing’; because that’s all that it is – desire. Cravings. I want them, but something that needs correction within me is telling me the lie that just to want it, counts.

But see, that’s the thing. If I’m not even willing to take the first step towards getting what I think is what I want, then I don’t really want it at all. In my mind, I’m saying it’s not worth losing my comfort. And what’s worse is I’m hating on those who do get ‘richly supplied’. I’m getting the same feels that Paul had, in Romans 7: Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Romans 7:24-25)

Indeed, if I feel like talking, I’d rather just let it all out towards God. And if I feel like listening, well, the Word is a good place to go to for God to let it all out towards me.

And as I said yesterday, before a congregation who apparently doesn’t grow tired with the reminders of God’s faithfulness towards us in times of trial, whether we read our Bible, or whether we pray every day, we grow, because our reading and our prayers will always point us back to Jesus.

So here I am, feeling like a sluggard… but with every word I type, I’m getting closer and closer to understanding that even in these times of lackadaisical weakness, my Savior is as close to me as He could ever be, and He has never left me. For this, today, I am thankful.

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

Proverbs 13:19

Perhaps, today, it was my desire to turn away from evil – or, from wasting my time with trivial stuff. I played too much games. I spent too much time on YouTube. But like I said, with every word I’m putting into this, I’m getting the ball rolling. God-willing, I get more done today… because, as it says, it actually is pretty sweet.

Dear reader, I’ll top it all off with this. I’m sharing something here that I recently posted on other Social Media platforms:

I’ve noticed an increase in people changing their profile pictures on Social Media to lit candles lately… and all I have to say is, folks, please, stay healthy. Watch over your loved ones and tell them how much you love them.

I also want to take this time to say I’m thankful to the Lord for you – yes, you who’s reading this. I pray that you are blessed, I pray for your health and protection, and for you to know the peace and faithfulness that only comes through Christ.

Have a good week ahead. I will be back to consistent posting starting today.