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After much study, pondering, and prayer, I was prepared to write today’s Monday Morning Memo, compiling information I’d learned with accompanying Biblical references. I intended to write about passion, a word that calls to mind great emotion and strong feelings. We find it spoken of throughout Scripture and it’s a fascinating read.

Instead, this MMM is about cursing, again a word that calls to mind great emotion and strong feelings. Why the change? Because (I’m embarrassed to admit) I engaged in some of that last weekend and, even though the Lord forgave me when I apologized and repented, He still wanted me to write about my experience and what I learned. So, are you ready for another “day in the life of Margret?”

Usually, when I’m pushed to the edge, if I at all express my displeasure at the situation I say, “Rasslefratz!” That’s not what I said. Instead, I’m ashamed to say, I burst out with a “God damn it!” which is absolutely *not* okay.

The incident occurred while I was washing dishes. We live in an old house with lots of uneveness. Except for one room, all the floors slope, often different directions. One of those rooms is the kitchen, which also means the counters are tilted. In the context of washing dishes, if you’re not super vigilant, the water you may not see on the counter runs along the front of the sink and gets your clothing wet. That happened. I also slopped a bunch on the floor (increasing the danger of injury due to slipping and falling), then dropped something, *and* almost broke a dish and a glass.

You might think what happened was not a big deal, and you’re right, but it was the last straw for me. For many weeks, I’ve felt much frustration and been deeply discouraged due to a couple of things that, daily, have a huge impact on my life yet over which I have absolutely no control. Thus the outburst.

It sorely grieved me but no more so than it grieved the One who loves us most. Immediately, I apologized, and as I did so, received forgiveness. At the same time, I came to understand that He hates it because it deeply hurts Him.

Why does it hurt God so much when we use that phrase? Think of how you might feel if someone where you work said there was money missing from the till and it was your fault but you know you’ve always returned anything that was not yours. Or someone else intimates that you’re an incorrigible gossip when, instead, you make it a point to hold confidences. Isn’t that hurtful? So, too, with Daddy God and this is what sacred Scripture states about His character:

No one who is tested should say, “God is tempting me!” This is because God is not tempted by any form of evil, nor does he tempt anyone. ~ James 1:13, Common English Bible

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. ~ John 3:16,17, Amplified Bible

They have lost all hope for survival, and they blame me. Tell them that as surely as I am the living LORD God, I don’t like to see wicked people die. I enjoy seeing them turn from their sins and live. ~ Ezekiel 33:10-11, Contemporary English Version

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17, New International Version 1984

See? Using any negative word while invoking the name of God impugns His character. More importantly, because the most important thing to God is our individual relationships with Him, it breaks His heart. He who loves us implicitly and without reservation is the antithesis of anything damning and that we would ever say so, even under situations of extreme duress, is very painful to Him. Thus, we should (and I’m sure, do) try to avoid it at all cost and apologize immediately if we’ve done so. It also hurts Him when we use His name in vain. A friend of mine from 20 years ago used to explain it this way, “When you exclaim, ‘Jesus!’ He immediately responds, ‘Yes? What do you need?’ and when you don’t respond He feels ignored, slighted.”

So, that speaks to God’s feeling when we use His name while cursing. About us, the Bible also says much, letting us know that what we say indicates who we really are. A Bible teacher I greatly admire, whose love of the Lord and understanding of Scripture I implicitly trust, says you never know what’s inside someone until they’re squeezed. Well, this weekend I was squeezed, and what issued forth wasn’t pretty. The Bible talks about that. It also says what we say carries eternal consequences. Listen:

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. … For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ~ Matthew 12:33-36, New King James

…no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison.

With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. Yet, with the same tongues we curse people, who were created in God’s likeness. Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen! Do clean and polluted water flow out of the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs? In the same way, a pool of salt water can’t produce fresh water. ~ James 3:8-12, God’s Word Translation

And, finally, “I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” ~ Matthew 12:36-37, New Living Translation

Wrapping all this up, I’m determined (with the help of the Lord) to be careful what I say, to not let my temper get the best of me. Why? Obviously, I have concern about my words acquitting or condemning me. In addition, most of what I say is heard by others and I’m aware my vocalizations can seriously affect their walks of faith. More importantly, I don’t want to hurt my Lord and Savior, the Lover of my soul.

Whatever you say or do, whatever you struggle with, may your conviction be to be conscious of those in your sphere of influence, and may you also always bless the One who created you, who loves you, and plans an eternity with you.

All of Heaven’s best to you and yours,

Margret

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