Have you ever sat down and thought where your thoughts are coming from? Most people rarely do. They just speak out whatever thought comes to them and then hurt other people that receive those words. They just state “that’s just the way I am – I speak my mind.” They do not have true love and compassion on those that they are speaking to and just expect people to “deal with it.”
Unfortunately so many in the world have no clue that their thoughts came from the true enemy in this world. The thought was planted by the enemy, then the person receives it and agrees with it, then speaks it out, hurting all that are within earshot. It is so important to think before one speaks, to discern what the ramifications will be.
It is one thing if the person does not have a personal relationship with the Lord, as who can expect a lost person to be loving, kind, gentle and compassionate with others if their heart is not of the Lord. But when a supposed Christian, who attends church regularly, and is being taught that we are to love like Christ loved the church, spews forth words that cause others to cringe in pain – then we must ask the question, why?
Our thoughts come from three places, ourselves, the enemy and the Holy Spirit or the Lord. Most people have thoughts that come from them, but many others hear from the enemy much more than they do the Lord or Holy Spirit. Once the thought comes in from the enemy, then they come into agreement with the thought, and then speak words out from their mouth, giving the thought life. Because death and life are in the power of the tongue – Proverbs 18:21.
Once the words are spoken out loud, then the other person receiving it begins to think about it. When they receive it, and are hurt by it, they will usually respond harshly back. Thus an argument ensues, and there is nothing anyone can do about it, as the enemy succeeded in stealing peace from both parties.
Keeping one’s peace on constantly, is a challenge to retrain our thoughts when they come from the enemy. We must think before we speak, as to how the other person will receive it. If they will become upset and an argument will ensue, then it is best not to speak anything out at all. What does the Bible say about this? 2 Timothy 2:23-26 says “23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
It is so important that people never strive with another. If the person will not receive what you have to say (in love), then it is better to not bring it up in the first place. Keeping peace with others, staying in love, is more important than trying to get your point across to them and having a huge argument ensue. Use discernment and think before you speak. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and when you begin to recognize how the enemy planted those thoughts to you in order to start strife, then shut him down and command him to back off.
Think about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report (Phil 4:8). Keep your peace on!