God continues to bring me to my knees over my heart attitude expressed out of my mouth. Many times, God has led me to a fast of negative, critical, judgmental, gossiping and complaining words. Why a fast from words? Is this a legitimate application of fasting? The Hebrew word fast means to cover the mouth. To abstain from negative words can be a battlefield for me.
Ephesians 4:29 God gives us a command: Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who hear. This means we are not to point fingers in judgment and no “rotten words” about others. The first time God led me to fast for 40 days from of all negative, complaining, critical and judgmental words – it was one of the hardest experiences of my Christian walk. It is very obvious the problem is not my mouth it is a heart issue. Proverbs 4:23, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
In the scheme of life, the times I find myself complaining, gossiping and being critical is so trivial. I have also been guilty repeating negative words about a friend’s actions when I don’t even know the situation.
Immediately, I hear in my spirit you are puffed up and have a heart of pride. I am reminded when Isaiah said, “Woe is Me! For I am a man of unclean lips.”
When I start my fast on words and in the first few days I feel like hand-to-hand warfare and I have to clench my teeth. Sometimes, I have to bite my tongue to keep me from opening my mouth because I know nothing wholesome is about to come out. I ask God to purge the wickedness of my heart and unclean lips. This critical, judgmental spirit always shows his ugly head in the root or pride. I think I know better when in reality, I am a woman of unclean lips puffed up with pride.
As the days turn into weeks, God softens my heart and gives me spiritual insights during this time. God is always faithful during my fast of words to reveal more of Himself. Ask God to help you keep from using critical, judgmental, negative, complaining, gossiping words. You will be amazed what God will do through it. At the very least, your family, friends, and co-workers may be amazed at the change in you.
Love and miss you!
Love this Debbie. I thought no we will all struggle as long as we are in this body.