turn your heart from envy, deceit and all slander, and despise the filthy playthings of the devil
Turn your heart from envy, deceit and all slander, and despise the filthy playthings of the devil :-
Do you have a tendency of speaking off the top of your mind without considering the consequences it may bring to the subject matter or to the hearer? Be mindful that an idle mind is the devil’s playground while a disciplined mind keeps troubles at bay.
Paul provides guidelines for every conversation, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29.
Unless our conversations serve the purpose of edifying and strengthening the hearer, there is no cause for words. However, if you find yourself struggling with chronic gossiping with evil intent, Jesus warns,
“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:35-37
Therefore, turn your heart from envy, deceit and all slander, and despise the filthy playthings of the devil. Instead, return to the perfect, to the glorious, and to what our hearts have always longed for: the eternal dwellings of God. By withholding your tongue long enough to allow careful consideration of your thoughts will go along way in making you a better person.
Note : Text extracted from Pastor Gabriel sharing at http://thesolidfood.org/