Watch Your Mouth

Written By Tina Cobian

Have you ever had one of those moments where you are going about life, minding your own business when you are suddenly hit with a thought or revelation?  At this point you stop, do a double-take and look straight into life’s camera as if to say, “Really?  Well that only took me fifteen years to get.”  Well, I had one of those moments while reading Psalm 59.  I need to rewind a bit to the beginning of my lesson called, “Watch Your Mouth.”

I was at work when my boss pulled me aside and started talking to me about promotion.  This would not be the last time he would spend moments speaking to me about future plans for our organization and how I was going to fit into that.  I was excited about the prospect of promotion and worked hard daily to keep moving forward towards that goal.  Soon after my initial conversation with my boss I became very ill and put out on medical leave for two months.  When I returned things at work had drastically changed.

The department I worked in had been split and some individuals had been promoted into a new department, not me.  However, there was one spot left that and I was sure was being held just for me.  A couple of weeks after returning to work, I went to see my boss and told him that I would love to move into the vacant position and I casually brought up one of our previous conversations about promoting me.  He looked at me it was as though while I was out on leave, he had also fallen, bumped his head and could not remember the last three months of his life.  He told me that he couldn’t remember those conversations and he would have to, “Check his notes.”  I was stunned.

The next few weeks were difficult for me because I felt so disenfranchised.  I started nit-picking

At this point I had convinced myself that it was ok to speak badly about him… It was an ugly moment in me.

everything and becoming bitter over what had taken place.  I tried to still do my job with pride but I found myself complaining quite a bit and even stirring up others by the negative things I would say.  At one point I sat down to “unload” on a co-worker who had been with the company for 15 years.  Surely, I would receive sound council from this older, wiser woman.

I mumbled, griped, complained and even gossiped about my boss.  I was so upset and felt it was my right to say the things I did.  Picking and choosing what we will call sin is a dangerous game; and it is one that we will lose every time.  At this point I had convinced myself that it was ok to speak badly about him since he had done me wrong.  After all, he wasn’t in “church” with me. I knew it was sin, the Holy Spirit lives in me… Just confessing this part makes me cringe.  It was an ugly moment in me.

Very soon after I was praying and I heard the Lord so clearly say to me, “You have a choice.  You can let me handle it, or handle it yourself. Or will your friend do more for you than I? There are those moments when God speaks to you and He is the Lover of your soul, your heart flutters and you rejoice at the sound of His voice in your ear.  He can also speak to you and be Daddy, or Papa loving and tender.  At this very moment He spoke to me as Father and Lord.  The sound of His voice commanded me to attention and I knew there would be no more excuses or justifications for my behavior.  Plain and simple, I was wrong.

From that moment on, I let it go.  (I wonder if Queen Elsa knew she was going to release a song of deliverance.) I asked God to forgive me and I moved on by making a decision to change my attitude and chose the high road at every turn.  Every time I wanted to remember what I thought had been stolen from me, my mind returned to God’s words over me and I was empowered to return to peace…His peace.

Our organization shifted again and this time because of the changes a large amount of the work load swung over to my group.  Coupled with the growing industry demand our department found itself heavily bombarded with more work than we could handle.  We were all working ten to eleven hours every day.  I kept a good attitude about it all and was determined to be God’s instrument of peace amidst the chaos and complaining.  Every day, He put a smile on my face and gave me a reason to laugh out loud and enjoy my job.

One day my manager called me in to her office and told me that we were hiring a new group of representatives and they were starting the next week.  She had recommended me for a mentoring position.  It was going to be my responsibility to train a new employee.  I was ecstatic.  I love teaching and this was an amazing opportunity being trusted with a new hire.   If I had been promoted those months ago, this opportunity would not have been available for me.  I would have been operating in a different capacity and not in the place I was called to be.

Current day…I am reading Psalm 59 and I am looking into life’s camera dumbfounded.  I hear the words of David.  He is crying out for deliverance from those who seek to destroy him.  He is pouring out his broken heart before God and waiting on him to move on his behalf.  The man who had become a father figure to him, Saul sought to kill him and yet he waited.  What I found most profound about David’s Psalm was that he hadn’t gone out gossiping about Saul telling his woes and troubles to whoever would listen.  He took all of that to God and at the end of Psalm 59 in verses 16-17 David praises and worships God, while he waits.

David, in the midst of this great trial and grief, remembers the Lord and how worthy He is.  He draws his strength and resilience from Him.  He remembers that there is nothing more important than his bond, heart to heart with God.  As I came to end of this Psalm I heard the Lord speak to me again and although the scripture may seem harsh to some; at that moment his voice was like gentle rain on my face.  It brought refreshing and renewal to me.  He said, “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life.  But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction and I have come that you may have life.”

I close my eyes and He is nearer to me than the skin that covers my flesh.  He is my breath and the life that moves through me every day.  In Him I live…I move…I exist because of Him.  Once again he has lovingly taught me a much needed lesson about trust and honor.  I sense the chuckle in His voice as He speaks again, “Are you ready?…New level, new lesson.”  I can’t help but giggle with Him.  Never a dull moment with our God.