Who's Listening?

Day two hundred eighty-eight

Lately I have been having some experiences that have strengthened my testimony that God knows me as an individual, that He is active in my life, and that He knows what I need and what those around me need.  I have been praying for such experiences. I have been asking for my eyes to be opened and my heart filled.  He has answered me.  Some of these experiences have been small in nature while others are of such a personal nature that I would dare not share them.  Some have been difficult, while others have brought me peace and comfort.  They all have been amazing. 

I have a tender heart this morning, a heart filled with love, and I wanted to make sure that my Heavenly Father knows it.  My prayer was filled with words of adoration for Father and for Christ.  I am overwhelmed with feelings of love for them today and I think they needed to hear it from me.  It only seems fair since I have been hearing from them quite often lately! 

2 Kings 9:25

"Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the Lord laid this burden upon him;"

It was the word remember that jumped out at me in this verse.  What was Jehu remembering?  This goes back to when Jezebel had Naboth killed so that Ahab could have his vineyard.  Back in 1 Kings chapter 21 Elijah told Ahab that because of his sin, the idolatry that he was in and was leading the nation in, that his house would cease to exist.  He also had given him this warning: "In this place, where the dogs have licked up the blood of Naboth, shall the dogs lick up thy blood” (1 Kings 21:19).  This was twelve years ago! Twelve years earlier, Jehu was a loyal subject to the king and heard Elijah say these words to him.  I have a hard time remember what was said yesterday, let alone twelve years ago!

Elijah might have spoken those words thinking only of Ahab, but it affected more than just Ahab.  The words of Elijah had made an impression on the heart of Jehu and he would see them come true. He remembers what Elijah said, and he lets the words lead his actions.  He thinks it would be fitting for Joram's body to be thrown into Naboth's field and he does it.

This got me thinking, you never know who is listening.  You never know who your words are going to touch.  You never know who's going to remember them.

Have you ever stopped to think that your words can cause action in other people, even years after they first heard them?  It should make us stop and think about the words we are using! 

One of the favorite stories to tell in my family is how the boys learned their first swear words.  They had overheard my father while he was working on a project. Later that night when they were pretending to work on their toy car and the tool slipped, out came a line of swear words that would embarrass even a seasoned swearer.  Needless to say a phone call was made and a reminder given: be careful what you say because you never know who is listening!

On a more positive side , I think when the Spirit prompts us to share something we should do it.  Elijah's words had been prompted by the Spirit and look at the impact they had. We don't always know who is listening and what affect it might have on them, but it's not always up to us to decide how or when our words will be effective, we just need to speak them.

I think that Isaiah had an understanding of this when he said:

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isa 55:11)

How important are our words?  The scriptures tell us "...be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).  Our words reflect how we feel about our Savior.

What difference would it make in your life if you only spoke words guided by the Spirit?  What difference would it make in the lives of those that hear your words?  I don't know, but this is something that I am willing to put some effort into and see where it goes.  I might not have much to say as I wait for the Spirit, but at least I know that when I do speak, it will have some worth.  Maybe even enough worth to be remembered.