Have you ever stopped to realize how powerful the words coming out of your mouth really are?  In any given moment we start pouring out words of affirmation and at other times we vomit a myriad of toxic negativity.  Maybe we tend to catch ourselves when addressing others but fail to guard our tongue when speaking over ourselves or present situations.  It may not apply to you, but I have found myself speaking negative thoughts about my own abilities and at other times, confessing how utterly hopeless a situation is.   The Old Testament records the proverbial wisdom of King Solomon for us to learn from.  In the scripture, Proverbs 23:19 NLT Solomon said, “My child, listen and be wise:  Keep your heart (soul) on the right course.”  Notice the direct challenge here for us:  Keep your soul in check so that you continue in the right direction.

Jesus is recorded by the good Dr. Luke in saying, “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” What is inside our soul comes out…especially in a challenging moment.  James, the brother of Jesus put an incredible emphasis on the power of the human tongue (words) to build up or tear down.  I think the words were more like “destroy” “incinerate” and such, but you get my point.  He equates the tongue to three things: a horse’s bit, a ship’s rudder and a fire.  Our words can light someone up or burn someone down.  Ultimately God desires us to harness the power of the tongue…it will enable us to change things.  The example of the RUDDER in verse 4 is a great example for us…especially when we are caught in the storms of life. Remember, Jesus told us that storms were a human experience all could expect to encounter (my paraphrase).  But what we say in or about the storm truly determines where it will propel us.  Imagine what would happen to the ship if the captain just let the rudder loose in the storm.  No, a good captain will maintain pressure on the ships rudder to keep it pointed in the desired direction through the storm.

Listen, you may feel like your life is broken, fallen apart and sinking, but the supernatural creative power of your words can get your life heading back toward the right direction!

Speaking God’s Word has to become a top priority in those moments!  Have you noticed how easy it is to speak positive when the water is calm, but…speaking positively IN A STORM sets the direction for your success. Today, choose to set a course with your rudder (words) OUT of the storm!

When you read this, what do you think of?   Irene, Katrina, Sandy  Storms, right?   specifically, famous hurricanes.   Not sure if you know this or not, but the National Hurricane Center names these storms.  There are six lists of approved alphabetical names for storms that rotate each year.  So in a sense, these storms keep cycling around every six years.  If hurricane “Fred” showed up in 2008, it came back around again in 2014.

However, there are times when there’s a change!

“The only time there is a change in the list, is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of it’s name on a future storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity.  If that occurs, then at an annual meeting by the World Meteorological Association…, the offending name is stricken from the list and another name is selected to replace it.”    

There are storms in your life that circle back around…and circle back around…and circle back around.  And at some point you are going to get to a place where you decide that the impact of that storm is too “costly” to let it cycle back around again.  It’s in this moment you will choose to ‘strike’ it from the list and pick a new name.  The disciples were with Jesus in a boat surrounded by a monster of a storm one time.  The D crew thought the storm’s name was ‘Death’…they woke Jesus expecting that they would all perish.  Jesus, on the other hand struck down that name and called (calmed) the storm, “Peace”.  He changed the name and the narrative.  Speak to the storm!  Hold fast the direction of the rudder.  We are going to the other side. Let’s be honest.  When you’re in those storms, you get familiar with it.  You get used to it.

Too often we find ourselves saying, “here comes my addiction again” or“I get the flu this time every year”.  Maybe it sounds like, “I always get anxious when…” or“I can’t get a job…no one is hiring”  

Come on church…strike it from the list and change the name!

I am healed
I am loved
I am free
I’m employed
I am confident and courageous!
I have purpose!

If we make it a point to do this, I guarantee the first thing that will change will be your heart…your attitude and ultimately your peace.  So, let’s turn the rudder.