As Silver Tried in a Furnace by Susan Marlene

The words of the Lord are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.  Psalms 12:6

Comforting, stabilizing, and encouraging are the loving words of our Father, whether we are joy-filled and elated or down-cast and trodden upon. His words bring life and liberate us from the weighty situations and attitudes this world harbors. When someone has spent much time with Him and soaked in the refreshment and grace His truth delivers, they draw us like a gravitational pull. There is a natural delight and purity that we find attractive, and we sense necessary. But when the undercurrent of law upon the lips of one with an unsoftened heart speaks—the opposite occurs. Bars of unreasonable expectation and critical judgment can hem us in if we do not make our escape.

Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword. They aimed bitter speech as their arrow, To shoot from concealment at the blameless… Psalm 64:3-4a What is the language of the evil one? Lying accusations, disrespect, and belittlement, which yields oppressive fruit. But oh, to discover the language of heaven, which bears abundant life, joy, and hope. How grateful I am that our holy and perfect Father provides our righteousness through Jesus so that we can luxuriate with Him in life eternal. Yet, we need to know His directives: accept, follow and abide.

His kindness and invitation to come unto Me never faulters. His message to His children doesn’t devastate or tramp down the spirit. He speaks correction that brings health and life that we may either chose to accept or deny. His precious thoughts toward us outnumber the sands of the sea and are too numerous to count.¹ He is the only way to journey to truth and life.  

My soul saddens greatly when blanket accusations wreak their poison. I’ve heard someone accusing his brothers and sisters in the Lord with statements harshly edged in judgment. Was that the sting of contempt upon his tongue? Why? How perfect are any of us? Do we not all share that talent to disappoint? Do we not all need forgiveness and intercessors who pray for life and liberty of our own personal challenges? I suppose it all boils down to what language we wish to speak and what fruit we wish to bear. Will we speak the language of the Devil and spew suspicion, division, and critical unforgiveness? Or will we allow our thoughts and words to produce a garden of delights filled with encouragement, truth that shines a light on hope for future pathways that will lead heavenward? Shall

we pray for things that are not as though they were?² That is how I wish others to pray for me. How about you?

Words so easily slide off the tongue, yet, are impossible to retrieve after they’ve been spent. I wish this to be my prayer—this prayerful verse from Psalm 19:14—Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord my rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14

 ¹ Psalms

 ² Romans 4:17