Uplift :Cup O' Joy

1 min.

James 1:26

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

Source: harvest.org via Jenny on Pinterest

If someone eavesdrops on your conversations, would the listener's life be changes for the better or for the worse?  What would she hear? Would she hear you berating and belittling others, or using coarse language and gossiping? Or would she hear you building others up and seeing the best in them? James closely connects our faith with our words: true faith, he claims, transforms our conversations. Though we will never be perfect, this is an obvious area where the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of Christ-followers, an area where we should see steady improvement. A women of character encourages others, draws others near and draws others to God.

James 1:19-27

New International Version (NIV)

Listening and Doing

 ¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

 ²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

 ²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

5 Min

Pray:

Lord forgive me for hurting others with my words and for being careless with the words that come out of my mouth. Help me to use my words for good, to keep a tight rein on what I say and to encourage others. Continue to pray as the Spirit leads you, or just sit quietly in God's presence.

10 Min

Becoming a Women of Character:

Word to take with you today:

Uplift

God requires justice, mercy and humility from us. 

Micah 6:8

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. 

   And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy    and to walk humbly^[a] with your God.

Psalm 1:1-2

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ Blessed is the one    who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take    or sit in the company of mockers, ² but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, 

   and who meditates on his law day and night.

Romans 5:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

³ Not only so, but we^[a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 

⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope.

2 Peter 1:5-8

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.