Page 37 - INWARD TRANSFORMATON - Tom Hendershot
P. 37

REFORMATION OF THE MIND BY THE SPIRIT AND THE WORD

              principles in the  law, but we can  find them in the
              wisdom writings also. It is wise to follow God’s ways.
              Wisdom teaches us to guard our souls by correcting
              our speech.
                  In  part  one,  we  briefly  considered  our  tripartite
              nature. We are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live
              in  a  body.  We  can  describe  our  soul  as  our  whole
              personality,  mind,  will,  and  emotions.  Paul
              instructed  believers  to  be  transformed  by  the
              renewing of their minds.
                  Our speech plays a vital role in this process.  In
              reality, renewal is impossible without changing the
              way we talk. With God’s help and empowerment, we
              must train ourselves to speak and affirm the correct
              words. We must learn to guard our lips, and thereby,
              protect our lives from ruin. Indeed, the person who
              guards their lips shelters and protects their soul.
                  “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but
              he who opens wide his lips will have destruction.”
                                                                         Proverbs 13:3

               DAY THIRTY:

                  Paul to Titus, "This is a faithful saying, and these
              things I want you constantly to affirm,…”

                               A TREE OF LIFE

                  In the beginning, when Adam and Eve were in the
              Garden,  they  could  eat  from  all  kinds  of  beautiful
              trees. Only one was prohibited. Also, in the center of
              the Garden was the tree of life. They choose to eat
              from the forbidden tree. God removed them from the
              Garden  lest  they  eat  from  the  Tree  of  Life  in  that
              fallen, sinful condition.
                  Not  only  does  guarding  our  tongues  against
              destructive  speech  help  us  keep  from  trouble,
              deliberately using them to affirm the truth releases

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