As we discussed last week, yielding is so much more than merging and getting along. We read through and captured the clarity that yielding is surrendering and giving into. We don’t want to give into by obligation or coercion, but out of authentic love as a sign of righteousness. Not something we manufacture or earn, but by who we are.

What have been your thoughts this week on “yielding”?  Have you noticed in your daily life the difference in yielding and merging?

We touched last week on a couple areas of our life and how we can yield our “eyes and ears” to the Lord.  This week we expand our thoughts of yielding to God even more.

Christian’s tongue should be Yielded

 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. – James 1:26 NLT

This is not the “religious” kind of people that just go through the motions and follow the rules. James was referring to those that truly felt they were in line with God.  The tongue is so powerful that it is the smallest, controllable member of the body that can cause the rest of it to respond.  People listen to what we say and they remember bits and pieces.  That is just one reason we should always be in alignment with God with our words. Then our captured words would still be in alignment with God.

What is your experience of one that does not “bridle” their tongue? Can you contrast your role models and others with how you receive their words?

¹I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ²Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. ³This is good and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. – 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT

That is an interesting selection of scripture to use for “yielding our tongue”. Why do you think this applies to how we yield our tongue?

Have you ever noticed that when you are grateful that you cannot be demeaning? When we are giving authentic praise we cannot tear down.  Paul is telling Timothy to first of all pray to God for people. Use your tongue in a proactive manner.  Get the momentum of your tongue going in the right direction. Hopefully this will be obvious why it is recommended that we start each day with bible reading (us hearing God) and prayer (us talking to God).

How is your morning prayer life? Is it in a season of struggle? What are your basic topics of prayer throughout the day?

¹⁹ But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” ²⁰ So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns* of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. – Mark 5:19-20 NLT

You notice that Jesus even gets more specific. He says you need to go and tell people about what the Lord has done for you and merciful he has been.  I am not sure about you, but many times when I come home, I try to shy away from my battles of the day. The typical line of “okay”, or “it was fine” have been my answers upon greetings.  We might not want to talk about the still lingering things that are bothering us, or the things that went wrong, but we should make every effort to share what God has done.  This not only frames God for others, but it gives them encouragement in their own lives.  A good way to keep this before us is to have a prayer journal. Capturing our prayers, but also the answers.  Now it is evident that if we are not keeping track of what we pray for it is easy to overlook what God has done.

What are some recent things the Lord had done for you and how has he shown you mercy?

Christian’s hands should be yielded

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. – Ephesians 4:28 ESV

We can read a lot into this verse, about what has been stole and who is in need, but the basics for us is to understand that what we do can contribute to good.  Some times when we go to work, or serve in an area we may seem to feel like it is for not.  Let us not be dismayed with doing good, because we just may be cultivating soil or nurturing what is to come.  We may be making connections, creating opportunity that goes beyond our reasoning in the moment.

I know many times in my life I rush right into the corral and want to get the job done. No messing around, let’s not waste any time.  I am reminded of a scene in one of my favorite passages of the bible, Acts chapter 16. The particular scene is after Paul and Silas are jailed for doing “right” and they are singing in jail, the earthquake crumbles the jail, the jailer is panicked and Paul and Silas comfort the man and end up going to his house afterwards for a celebration.  At the home where the jailer took Paul and Silas for revival, to give eternal life to his family, the jailer did not rush the matter.  The context is that the jailer was truly excited about his new salvation and wanted his family to be saved as well. But he did not rush into the situation.  He used his hands and lived the moment.

²⁵ Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. ²⁶ Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! ²⁷ The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. ²⁸ But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” 

²⁹ The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 

³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” ³² And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. ³³ Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. ³⁴ He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. – Acts 16:25-34 NLT

Even in this glorious, anxious moment, God shows us that we need to love those in our midst. How often we just rush right through life and forget about the journey.

Do you have an example where someone may have showed compassion and connection with you, when it was not expected?  What did you feel like in that situation? Was it easy to receive?

Forward with Intention

This week, use deliberate intention in you daily life. Use your tongue for adoration, encourage others. Pray for them before judging them.  Be patient in your life, experience what God is  doing.  It is the details of life that God came and died for. If it was all about just getting out of this world and going to heaven, the saved would already be there!

With this being Christmas season, take the time to show appreciation and to express the love that Christ would have showed. Remember, we have the Holy Spirit in us that intends to represent Christ to this world through us.  The intentions are not to make us look like good people, but to share the hope with others that a mighty God can do wonders through broken people like us.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.