Words Of Encouragement For Your Day (Monday 10/17/2011)

Today's Devotional Written By The Bold And Uncompromising Words Of Tracy A. Dixon

 Tell It Like It Really Is

Ephesians 4:14-16 Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁴So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead.¹⁵Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).¹⁶For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.

Today's message in the music comes from the title of John Mayer's song "Say What You Need to Say". The past two weeks God has forced me into a place of speaking truth. We always say that the truth will set us free, yet so many of us are constantly being held hostage by fear of what the truth will really produce.

My first encounter was with a young person I love dearly. She was upset about some situations and with some people in her life because she felt they were over stepping. She found herself angry and close to snapping because alot of the reasons for her new environment was the direct result of the mistakes the adults in her life had made and continue to make concerning her. Normally, I am the cool older adult who is understanding and on "their" side, but this time God had me go in a different direction. He had me speak some hard truths into her, and although it hurt for me to say it and for her to hear it, it all needed to be said. She was upset with me, but she was able to acknowledge that she knew I had said all I had said because I truly loved and cared about her.

My hardest and greatest faith test was having to speak into my greatest mentor and highly valued friend. I had to finally say alot of things that I had been holding in for years because I was afraid it was my flesh and not God. I had to come to a place of confidence in my walk with Christ and speak boldly. I was forced to lay down our age difference, my insecurities, my girlfriend status and just tell it like it was.

My last test was with a couple who normally speaks truth and life into me and Shane, so for the tables to be reversed I really had to trust God. When it was time for me to speak the Word into a situation that looked as if the enemy had won, I pulled on my two previous victories and I let God use me. I was still a bit nervous because of who the couple was, but after a good 30 seconds on the phone, the powerful spirit of God went to working.

So many times in our lives we hold our tongues, not because we are afraid to speak the truth, but because we don't want to hurt anybody feelings. Other times we stay silent because we don't spend enough time with Jehovah to recognize His voice when He tells us to speak into someone. No matter what the reason, its time for us to step up and step out on faith. God is requiring true warriors in this season that He can depend on. Your silence may just become the death of somebody's spirit, mind, emotions, and even physical body. Life or death is in the power of tongue................so don't hold back when God tells you to use it......simply say what you need to say in Jesus name!!