Page 4 - 24 October 2025

PAGE 4 · THE REPORTER 24 OCTOBER 2025

You can download the free app EDWJ via Play Store. They have 'Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. Further study: James 3:9-
included two versions of daily reading on the App, Contemporary My brothers and sisters, this should not be.' 12: With the tongue we
(New authors and a new format) and the Classic (The original Selwyn (V10) James 3:9-12 praise our Lord and Father,
and with it we curse human
Hughes devotionals):
beings, who have been
I remember driving home and trusted mediator for any made in God's likeness. Out
from church once, singing further interactions. of the same mouth come
along with worship music in But for most of your praise and cursing. My
me with joy in your presence, my car, when, all of a everyday occurrences, it is brothers and sisters, this
with eternal pleasures at sudden, another car turned appropriate and biblical to should not be. Can both
your right hand. in front of me, cutting me off. forgive and love. Because it's fresh water and salt water
I immediately shouted a flow from the same spring?
Psalm 9:1-14: I will give four-letter word I had no actually not about that My brothers and sisters, can
thanks to you, Lord, with all business saying! Talk about a person or if you think they a fig-tree bear olives, or a
my heart; I will tell of all your verbal whiplash! One 'deserve' your kindness. It's grapevine bear figs? Neither
wonderful deeds. I will be about Jesus and how He
We look now at an eighth inside, but the joy of moment, I was quite literally longs for us to be more like can a salt spring produce
and final aspect of prayer - descending thoughts - glad and rejoice in you; I will praising Jesus, and in the Him. He loves and knows fresh water.
prayer is rejoicing. There is thoughts that come down to sing the praises of your next breath, I was using that every individual, and He calls
joy at the heart of prayer, for us from above. It settles in name, O Most High. My same tongue to curse the us to love them as well. So, it Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus
y o u h a v e t h e i n n e r the heart, penetrates deep enemies turn back; they driver in front of me. is disintegrous for us to replied: "'Love the Lord your
conviction that no matter into the nervous system, and stumble and perish before The thing is, it's easy to say praise and worship Him but God with all your heart and
what happens everything will permeates our being, you. For you have upheld my terrible things about then curse someone He with all your soul and with all
work out for good. Thus the bringing joy, joy, joy - the joy right and my cause, sitting arguably a terrible driver. It's loves in our next breath. your mind." This is the first
prayerful heart is the of His presence. enthroned as the righteous easy to get mad and assume and greatest command-
confident heart, not the A prayer to make: O Father, judge. You have rebuked the the worst of him or her. But An action to take: Ask the ment. And the
confidence of self-hypnosis, I am so thankful that I find in nations and destroyed the what's much harder, and Lord who you need to forgive second is like it: "Love your
but the quiet confidence that You a joy greater than any joy wicked; you have blotted out much more in line with God's or honour. Even if they don't neighbour as yourself." All
with God everything can be this world can offer. How can their name for ever and ever. heart, is that I would 'deserve' it, pray blessings the Law and the Prophets
overcome, mastered and I ever sufficiently praise You Endless ruin has overtaken recognise God's likeness in over each of the people God h a n g o n t h e s e t w o
used. A literal translation of for all You have done for me? my enemies, you have them and treat them brings to mind. commandments.'
the familiar verse found in I shall be eternally grateful. uprooted their cities; even accordingly. Every human A prayer to make: Holy
Psalm 91:1 reads thus: 'He Amen. the memory of them has being is made in the image Spirit, remind me that each John 13:34-35: 'A new
that chooses as his perished. The Lord reigns o f G o d . T h a t ' s t r u e human being I come across command I give you: love
permanent abode the secret Further study: Psalm 16:1- for ever; He has established regardless of what they've is made in Your image. May I one another. As I have loved
place of the Most High shall 11: Keep me safe, my God, His throne for judgment. He done to me or you, even if see them as such and love you, so you must love one
always be in touch with the for in you I take refuge. I say r u l e s t h e w o r l d i n their actions are more hurtful them accordingly. Amen. another. By this everyone will
almightiness of God.' This is to the Lord, 'You are my righteousness and judges than being cut off in traffic. know that you are my
the secret of our inward Lord; apart from you I have the peoples with equity. The Memory Verse: 'Do not let disciples, if you love one
hilarity - we can laugh at no good thing.' I say of the Lord is a refuge for the Notice I said hurtful, not any unwholesome talk come another.'
what comes, for in Christ we holy people who are in the oppressed, a stronghold in harmful. Some people can out of your mouths, but only
what is helpful for building
are more than a match for land,'They are the noble times of trouble. Those who genuinely cause long-term others up according to their Romans 5:8: But God
what comes. ones in whom is all my know your name trust in You, h a r m a n d , i n t h o s e demonstrates his own love
delight.' Those who run after for You, Lord, have never situations, the best option needs, that it may benefit for us in this: while we were
Someone once asked me in other gods will suffer more forsaken those who seek might be to distance yourself those who listen.' (Ephesians still sinners, Christ died for
a Q&A session if Jesus ever and more. I will not pour out you. Sing the praises of the from them and use a safe 4:29) us.
laughed. I replied that I didn't libations of blood to such Lord, enthroned in Zion;
know, but He created me so gods or take up their names proclaim among the nations
that I could laugh. The on my lips. Lord, you alone what He has done. For He
laughter that followed are my portion and my cup; w h o a v e n g e s b l o o d
showed that He had created you make my lot secure. The remembers; He does not
others in the same way also. boundary lines have fallen ignore the cries of the
The laughter I am talking for me in pleasant places; afflicted. Lord, see how my
about here is not just the surely I have a delightful enemies persecute me!
laughter that we enjoy when inheritance. I will praise the Have mercy and lift me up
we have listened to a good Lord, who counsels me; from the gates of death, that
clean joke but a deeper even at night my heart I may declare your praises in
laughter - a laughter that instructs me. I keep my eyes the gates of Daughter Zion,
comes from truly knowing always on the Lord. With him and there rejoice in Your
what life is all about.
at my right hand, I shall not salvation.
I have no hesitation in saying be shaken. Therefore my Psalm 119:14,162: I rejoice
that the greatest joy is the joy heart is glad and my tongue in following your statutes as
that comes from prayer. rejoices; my body also will one rejoices in great riches...
Wordsworth the poet talks of rest secure, because you will I rejoice in your promise like way, answer these questions: 1:22-25: Do not merely you, o mortal, what is good.
the 'joy of elevated thoughts' not abandon me to the one who finds great spoil. What has God said? What listen to the word, and so And what does the LORD
but the joy that comes in realm of the dead, nor will are you going to do about it? deceive yourselves. Do what require of you? To act justly
prayer is not merely joy of you lt your faithful one see Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in it says. Anyone who listens to and to love mercy and to
elevated thoughts - thoughts decay. You make known to the Lord always. I will say it A prayer to make: Word- the word but does not do walk humbly with your God.
that come up from the me the path of life; you will fill again: rejoice! Made-Flesh, dwell in me what it says is like someone
today.Let my faith not hide in Matthew 25:40: 'The King
thought, but walk in mercy. who looks at his face in a will reply, "Truly I tell you,
Amen. mirror and, after looking at whatever you did for one of
himself, goes away and the least of these brothers
behold. Memory Verse: 'Blessed is immediately forgets what he and sisters of mine, you did
the one who perseveres looks like. But whoever looks
The Word lived in Christ for me."
begins to live in us. Slowly, under trial because, having intently into the perfect law John 13:4-15: 'Now that I,
stood the test, that person
quietly, His compassion will receive the crown of life that gives freedom, and your Lord and Teacher, have
becomes ours. His mercy that the Lord has promised continues in it - not washed your feet, you also
moves through our hands. to those who love him.' forgetting what they have should wash one another's
His justice speaks from our heard, but doing it - they will feet. I have set you an
(James 1:12)
lips. This is not mimicry. It is be blessed in what they do. example that you should do
participation. And we Further Study: James Micah 6:8: He has shown as I have done for you.'
The closing verses of James invitation. For the Word is
1 invite us into a deeply not just information about discover we have become
embodied spirituality - one God. It is the self-expression who we were meant to be.
that hears and responds. of God, offered to shape us This is what God desires: not
The Word is not meant to be from the inside out. For us to perfection, but participation
admired or analysed from a see a glimpse of who God and creation.
safe distance. It is meant to meant us to be, take hold of An action to take: Don't wait
be received like a seed, that, and let God form and to feel holy - just act in love.
planted deep in the soul, transform us. Visit, call, feed, or comfort
where it takes root and grows s o m e o n e w h o f e e l s
into action. James describes As we listen - not just with forgotten. Take some time to
the Word as a mirror. ears but with heart, mind, reflect on the week's
and body - something devotions. Using the
It shows us who we are - and remarkable happens. We journaling feature in the app
who we are becoming. Not begin to take on the or in your own way, answer
by obligation, but by character of the One we these questions: your own