Keep Dreaming

Keep your dreams alive.
They are the color on your canvas.
Once they die, your canvas slips into grays.
Not black and white, clear and defined,
But the grays of mediocrity.

Your dreams push you forward.
They lift you.
They make you who you are,
and take you further.

My canvas has become gray,
because I've settled for less than I should.
I've convinced myself that they weren't worth attaining.
But lies are the devil's handiwork,
and his dreams are our destruction.

Dreams don't have to be extreme;
They just have to make each day,
each week,
each month,
each year worth seeing.

Fasting from Talking

In the last 10 minutes, after  brief research to see how biblically-based it is, I have decided to fast from speaking. My mouth gets me into a lot of trouble - I think less with other people and more with myself and God.

Over the past few years, I've become more brazen about what I tell other people. I have always been extremely reserved about what I say to others - and really, I still am. I have never been one to tell my business to other people, nor share my opinions. I save my opinions for a select few. Typically, my opinions are critical and negative, versus constructive and positive. In other words, my opinions are rants, whines, and complaints. Those are most definitely against the Word of God.

I think the older I've gotten, the more certain I've become in thinking that being an adult entitles me to a critical opinion of everything. But I think that instead of showing my maturity, it rather shows an immaturity. Is it possible that the older I get, the more immature I'm becoming?

While I am very discerning of people and situations and while I am very knowledgeable about the Word of God, I think I am more voicing my own mind than I am actually relying on God's opinion. Way to go, me! You think you know more than God! Top notch work, me!

In reality, if what I say and think was truly based on what God says and thinks, then I would feel better about it than I end up feeling. If it was truly based on His leadings, then other people would be built up and encouraged.

So, starting now I'm going to attempt to keep my mouth shut. I don't know for how long, but at least long enough that I feel like I can once again speak with a filter. Reining in your words is really a reining in of your thoughts first.

Here's to me shutting up!!

James 1:19-20 — Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 10:19 – When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.