My Mouth and My Heart

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

-     Psalm 19:14 NKJV

When I first started writing this Moment to Reflect workplace devotionals about three years ago, I would always insert a picture of a mirror near the title.  I wanted anyone who read it to know that each entry was as much written to me as it was written for  my fellow teachers.   While most of the reflections ended up intertwining humor with something God had been showing me throughout the week, there have been a few entries when I poured out my frustrations as a teacher.

Today's soul bearing entry comes from me looking into the mirror concerning the words of my mouth,and the meditations of my heart, or as I like to say, "the stuff I want to say but have too much upbringing or reputation to uphold" kind of meditation.

 

Therefore, I have to come clean.  These past few weeks, I have listened to me chime in on the latest gossip, chime in on the complaining, start the complaining, listen to the cursing without walking away, and even chime in on the cursing in the meditations of my heart…and behind my teeth.  I’m not having the best of school years and I didn’t mind letting anyone who would ask know it.

  The bible says faith without works is dead. Soooo, although I can read and pray the Forty Days of Prayer for Education,   if my mind is not renewed from the things that God is showing me about myself, what I believe and know God to be able to do for myself, students and school will never manifest.

Here are some "good" points
to having good conversations.

The hard look in the mirror came again today as I was reminded of the parable of the wheat and the tare (weed). Growing side by side, they looked almost the same which made it impossible to pull up the weed until it was harvest time.  This, I likened to the  "good" and "God" growing side by side in me.  There are good things that I do and a way I can project being a good person, especially if I keep my mouth shut.  But what about my heart? I would rather have God as the sole proprietor of my heart doing good works through me, than for me to try to do good things with a quiet, complaining, angry heart.  

 Here are Godly points on having a Godly conversation! 

My hope for total transformation is found in the example of Lydia, a business woman from the New Testament book of Acts. This woman was already a woman of God doing good things.  However, the bible says that God, "opened her heart to respond/pay attention/ heed Paul's message".  

Thank you Jesus, there is always another level to go in You. So, God I lift up this heartfelt prayer to you:

Father,

You are a heart regulator. In this story with Lydia, You are showing me that even those who worship You,  still need a transforming word to change our hearts.  Cleanse me from my secret faults and keep me from presumptuous sins.  Help me to understand being good on the outside is not good enough. Knowing the good way to speak into my situations is not good enough. Open my heart to Your ways and cover my heart with Your language for out of the abundance of my heart, my mouth will speak. Show me the Godly way to speak. Your word gives me hope that when I call, You will answer and make me bold and confident with new strength in my life. It may be difficult to be different, but I desire You more than popularity.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. May they come up before You visible and pleasant as the sweet smell of incense. 

Father, may You open others' hearts to respond to this message as You did for me.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

The Lord is with you and you are love,

Toni 

Please enjoy this week's song!

Climate Change

It is truly a blessing to be called a child of God.  Moreover, that blessing becomes even more valuable and meaningful when we work in service to others all for the advancement of His Kingdom. Unfortunately, this service that I call "teaching" hasn't seem so blessed lately.  The climate of peace that once enveloped my classroom has shifted into something that I've been staring at like an impending storm.

What I am learning is that my old way of praying isn't enough.  I am learning that I'm going to have to have a fresh boldness to take back what belongs to God. I need to update my prayer and update my praise!   

So why is it so important to set the climate in your classroom and school?  What does it really mean to "set the climate"?  In Matthew 8:23-27  Jesus is asleep in a boat with His disciples while they try to manage the untameable wind and waves all around them.  When they realize their efforts are not working, they call on Him to save them from their obvious demise.   Jesus silences the violent wind and cause the roaring waters of the Sea of Galilee to immediately be still.

When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. And the disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us, we are going to die!”  He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness].  The men wondered in amazement, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Matthew 8:23-27 AMP

Not only did Jesus calm the immediate atmosphere of weather, He shifted the climate ( long termed averaged atmospheric occurrences) of faith in His disciples.  He demonstrated His authority over the things He created and exercised His dominion on this earth.  

As Believers who are also educators, we are are called to exercised our God given dominion on this earth through the power of His Holy Spirit working in us. We speak with and in the authority of His Name over those things that come against His principles and our assignment to love others and lift Him up. Everything we do is for the glory of God and the increase of His government over the enemy's.  It is for the spiritual lives of our students and our coworkers that we have been assigned to that school or that classroom to show Jesus through a life of love, obedience to the Father and service to others.  

I'm sure if we could be like these weather workers, things would really begin to change in our schools.

Joshua asked for the sun to stand still -  Halt any actions that do not edify God before your students and coworkers.

Elijah called for drought -  Speak a drying up of those things that are not of God in your school.

Gideon asked for dew -      Don't be afraid to ask for the impossible.  With God, all things are possible.

Samuel  called for thunder and rain -  God can use you to show His existence and power.  

Jesus calmed the wind and waves -  Tell the complainers and those that seek to take your peace to be silent.

Jesus caused an eclipse  - While there may be a darkness that you don't understand, know that Jesus, as a perfect sacrifice, empowered you to be strong even in your weakness.

Paul and Silas caused an earthquake - The praise and adoration of God that you do before those who do not believe in Him has the power to loose the chains of unbelief in their life.

This week as you prepare for work, pray that God will show you what needs to dry up and what needs to be rained on.  Pray that He shows you how to cause praise induced earthquakes and to expect the refreshing Dew of His Spirit everyday.  Pray for a peaceful climate to overtake your school and alertness and energy to wake out of your slumber to silence the enemy. 

 

Update your prayer.         Update your praise.

Take control of your environment and set the climate.

The Lord is with you and you are loved,

Toni

Please enjoy this week's song!