Daily Devotionals by Ardith Keef

     I love the phrase Paul uses - ". . .sweet reasonableness. . ."
     How remarkable it is that God's Children answer one another in anger and respond with biting rage in the home.
     Sarcasm and defensiveness have no place in the life of a Soldier of the Cross. It is sometimes necessary to say hard things that draw unpleasant reactions, but they must be said in humility and they must be spoken in cleanness.
     In an era when the modern world is pushing the "just say what you feel" method of living, we who are His must heed the Word of God.
     Women, there is no excuse for one sharp word in the home. Bossiness, fault-finding, and statements of self-pity are ungodly and should be halted before they are said.
     Men, learn to speak with your wives and children without expressing an anger that presses away reason. Listen to the tone of your own voice.
     The Bible does not teach us to have happy homes. It does not teach us to do things in a manner that will cause us to control our environments or bring about smooth living.
     The Bible teaches us to lay down our lives and be living sacrifices.
     A living sacrifice does not lay on the altar and sputter resentment or tell the Lord how to build a better altar.
     I believe that in heaven, we will account for the words we have spoken here. Our words do not just vaporize after they are spoken - they create and they destroy.
     If a third party were standing next to you with a video camera, you would stop to consider the sound and impact of your words.
     Don't you realize all the angels and demons are listening?          
     His name is The Word.
     He gave us His Word.
     We communicate to Him and to each other with words.
     Oh, Soldier of the Cross, let us be so immersed in the Word that we are wise in prayer and see the things that are really important.
     Let us be obedient servants and guard the tongue. It should never be a tool to have the last word, prove the other inferior or a vehicle for spurting out emotional darts.
     Rather, it should be a source of Life, yielded to the Holy Spirit for the purpose of ministry.