And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:6 NLT

Ripped apart.

Words of anger etched on my spirit, scorched holes in my heart.

Condemnation and judgment sit heavy.

How do I scrub words off my skin?

Shrapnel stuck in my soul.

My heart aches with it.

Vulnerable, clay people stuck in conflict.

Do I believe enemy influenced lies?

The best lies contain a seed of truth.

Truth without love is a dagger, not a sword.

Stabs deep.

Leaves a gaping hole where love once lived.

I gasp for air.

Word leeches.

Tentacles that stick and hold, add to the chorus in my head.

Not enough.

Too much.

Unlovable.

A failure.

Screw up.

You never do anything right.

STOP

Who Lord, do You say I am?

You call me beloved.

You call me Your Own.

You say nothing can separate me from Your love.

You are close when I am brokenhearted and You bind my wounds.

You meet me in mess.

Mercy in mayhem.

Grace cauterizes Word wounds.

Forgiveness frees.

When I can’t believe in myself, You never stop.

Words of war.

Missiles to target and destroy.

Faith for the fallout.

Bunker of belief.

Performance based people love.

God loves unconditionally.

I speak words against Him.

Go my own way.

Ignore Him.

Sin.

His answer isn’t harsh words or abandonment.

He comes instead in a whisper, as a baby.

Born in humility – an animal’s stable amidst dirt and dung.

He lived among us in poverty and need.

No pillow for His Holy head.

Then died a brutal death.

For my words.

For my hard heart.

For my sin.

Love gives – grace, mercy, forgiveness.

There was a cost – it was paid with His life’s blood.

There is no love without forgiveness, no forgiveness without love. Click To Tweet

If I follow, I must do the same.

“Lord, forgive them, they know not what they do”

I’ve thrown word rocks, boulders aimed to injure.

How can I hold another hostage when I have done the same?

If I focus on God and His Word, He grows my capacity to love.

He grows my spirit’s fruit.

He helps me bear with others and offers grace and forgiveness when I am wronged.

He upholds me with His righteous, right Hand and gives rest for my soul.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. James 1:26