Which Path

Life or Death…….

It’s a choice. Will I choose life, which will lead down the road of:
*Love
*Joy
*Peace
*Patience
*Kindness
*Goodness
*Faithfulness
*Gentleness
*Self Control

Or, will my flesh choose death, which leads down the road to:
*Hate
*Anger
*Stress
*Intolerance
*Meanness
*Evil Doing
*Roughness
*Indulging

Proverbs 18:21 in the message says:
Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit-you choose.

The amplified version says:
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

Each and every one of us have the power with our words to choice *LIFE*…or to choice *DEATH*. It would appear to be an easy choice, yet often it’s not.

God is taking me through a *NEW* season in my heart…and through this season I’m brought *face-to-face* with this reality. You see, it’s easy to appear to be one way….showing Godly *fruits*, by my words. But in all honestly, actions speak MUCH louder than words. Matthew 7:16 (message) speaks clearly about this very issue:
Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.

At this very moment, I’m sure each of us can say, “Yes…*sister-so-in-so* is JUST like this. But I believe God is getting at the heart issue of, *where is my heart at??* We hold SO much power in our tongue….we can build up, or we can tear down; yet so often we jump on the band wagon of gossip, rather than building up.

It’s not easy to appear to be a *fruit of the spirit* gal….the reality is…it is rather exhausting, aside from a heart that is SO intune with God. You see, it’s tiring to put on the mask of *I’ve got it all together*…*I’m better than sister-so-in-so*…..*can you believe that they __________________…*…(fill in the blank); and it’s very weary to *appear* to have it all together, and give off the air that one is *super spiritual*, and that through our being super spiritual some how that gives us the right to be hurtful, spiteful, and judgmental towards others.

What does it matter if *OTHERS* think highly of us, due to our actions, or our words…when our Heavenly Father KNOWS our heart….and he weeps in displeasure as he sees the *TRUE* condition of our heart??? You see…we CANNOT fool God, so why do we spend so much time trying to fool others???? We CANNOT impress God, so why do we spend so much time trying to impress others??? We CANNOT manipulate God, so why do we spend so much time trying to manipulate others????

God is calling us to draw a line in the sand; he’s beckoning us to *choose* fruit…his fruit; verses what the world has to offer. Our tongue is SO powerful and I believe God wants us to use our words to offer hope and healing, not death and destruction.

I once heard this saying, and I believe it’s something that is worth repeating. A group of gals were gathered together and they were sharing what was going on in their lives. Well, it didn’t take but a few minutes before *gossip* broke out; and as the gossip train began chuggin’ along…one dear, brave gal took a stand, she drew a line in the sand… and said,
“you know, that’s NOT our story to tell. If you want to know the details of what *sister-so-in-so* is going through, perhaps you should ask her directly.”

You see, it’s easier to form a judgment, or form an opinion about someone from something we’ve heard. When I believe God desires for us to bear the fruits of the spirit in our lives, and as we bear them, we will become better relational people, who through our relationships offer God’s hope to others, rather than our thoughts…opinions….or our gossip.

What we put in…is what comes out!! If we want to have the *fruits of the spirit* spill out of us…we need to be DAILY spending time with God…..because what is in our heart….is what really pours out of us!

My prayer: God, moment by moment, remind me that it’s ALL about you…and not me!! Help me to daily choose YOUR path...not the path that the world has to offer. Help me to have your fruit displayed in my life. Give me your strength as I’m in situations that pull at my flesh to think worldly thoughts, or to participate in negative talk/behavior. Give me wisdom to discern the actions/motives of others so that in my response, I'm pleasing you. Father, continue the work you are doing, as you lead me through this new season of my heart.