Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Our paternal grandmother, Mama Kate, was the dearest person. She loved her family and friends so deeply that it never entered her mind they would do anything wrong. She gave to others even when she did not have it to give. She fed other families during the Depression of the 1930s. She cooked the most elaborate holiday meals. She would rock us every day after lunch and tell us family stories. Her greatest joy was having her whole family together.

BUT…she could be so negative in her speech. She saw danger and trouble everywhere. She could not see past a calamity to the other side. Sometimes, fear seemed to lurk behind her eyes. 

I cannot fault her in this. Her mother died when she was a young teenager. She lost a two year old baby brother to pneumonia. There were years of crop failure and not a lot of food in the cellar. They woke up one night to their home burning down around them. Everyone escaped. But most everything was lost. Her husband suffered from PTSD after serving in WWI.  Although it wasn’t identified at that time. She sent 3 sons to war…I could go on… you see what I mean.

I don’t think we are very different from her sometimes. We forget the goodness of our great God. 

We listen to that dark voice that comes to accuse us when we fail or sin. Soon, that voice can make one believe their sin is so large, God can never forgive them. How awful! How untrue! 

When those moments arise, talk to yourself. Declare what you know is true.

I am redeemed, forgiven, and lavished with grace.

There is nothing that can separate me from the love of Christ.

My sin, small or large, was paid for by Christ’s finished work on the cross…His precious blood.

It is a lie that He will throw me away.

It is a lie that He doesn’t hear me. He always hears me.

He answers prayers for my good and His glory.

He remembers that we are dust.

He has compassion on us.

When our hearts break, His heart breaks.

He binds up our wounds.

We are safe in the secret place of the Most High. (Psalm 91)

He gives us everything we need. 

He is righteousness, joy, and peace.

It has all been settled.

I could go on and on…

Do not be deceived by the ugly voices that seek to move us away from Him. There is nothing He cannot do. His arm is not so short that He cannot save. When we have confessed with our mouth that He is LORD and believed in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, His Word declares that we are saved. We are sealed in the Holy Spirit. There is nothing, nothing, nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ.

Don’t walk away thinking there is no hope for you or that He doesn’t love you. Draw near to Him. He will draw near to you. Speak life. Listen to Him speak life.