The Answer
How often do we say words from our mouths and the second after we've said them, our hands go up as if in disbelief that we've said such a thing? We say to ourselves,
"Did I just say that?" or "I can't believe I said that." or "I didn't mean to say that." Deep down within we know that we meant what we said, said what we meant, and wanted it to do the damage that it has done. The thing that we fail to realize is that, once the words are released,
we can't take them back. Deep down we know this, but it some way we try to fix the damage. We try to mend the hurt. We try to justify what we've said. Ever since the post on Facebook, I rolled over and over in my head what she meant. Believe it or not, I actually got my answer the same day I made the last post. It was revealed to me the reason we lose our covering.
As children of the
Most High God, our words are supposed to be words that edify. In the
Strong's Concordance, the word
edify means
the act of building up. God is clearly saying that our words are meant to be spoken with the intent on building up the people or person they are being spoken to. Anything contrary to this is out of the will of God.
We lose our covering when we release words from our mouths that are not done with the intent for edification. There are people who tend to think that they can say whatever it is they want to say because they feel they have the liberty to say it out of "
speaking the truth". Yet when the words come out of their mouths, there is not one word of truth in what they had to say. They come off being an offense rather than a blessing. They've used their liberty of words as an occasion to fulfill their flesh
(Galatians 5:13). They've become a stumblingblock rather than a stepping-stone
(1 Corinthians 8:9). This ought not to be so.
Once our covering has been removed,
we open the door for criticism to come in. The devil loves to find any crack or crevice he can slither into to bring us into condemnation and guilt.
The finger is then pointed at you. There are only two ways our words can be used: for good or for evil. Victoriously for us, we don't have to allow condemnation nor guilt to settle in. We have the authority through humility and repentance to run the devil off. The way that we do it when we are interacting with others is through edification.
Just think of what you can do for that broken spirit when you speak words of encouragement. Surely we really don't want to give place to the enemy do we? I pray not.
It's a good thing for us to be covered by God's magnificent grace and to remain covered. One thing I know, is that He didn't make us ignorant to the wicked devices of the enemy. He actually exposes them for what they are: lies to deter us from the truth. Let's not be found putting an occasion of stumbling in our brother's way. Let's not lose our covering. Let us make no room for criticism but for building and edification.
Blessings,
"Let us therefore follow after the things
which make for peace, and things wherewith
one may edify another."
(Romans 14:9)
