Silently Killing Your Enemy

The late Charles Capps said something in his bestselling book, ‘The Tongue: A Creative Force’, that will forever change how I speak about certain people and situations. He said,

‘We have said, “Oh, it looks like the wicked prosper.” Well, we said they were. That is one reason they are prospering. You have said, “Oh, they can do just anything, and whatever they do will prosper.” You have been releasing faith to prosper the wicked.’

How many times have we put our mouths on an unproductive, politicking co-worker or a power tripping boss? How many times have we said sidechicks are winning and that certain races use their privilege to their advantage? How many times have we felt unappreciated or said that nice guys finish last? You know why they do? Because we said it.

Fueling Your Enemy’s Success

Proverbs 18:21 says, ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.’ We thought that by speaking up and voicing our opinions, that somehow it would put that person or situation to death. When in reality, we’ve been giving life to our enemies. How? By broadcasting what they’re doing. We call it venting, but it’s actually fueling our enemy’s success. Jesus said in Mark 11:22, 23,

‘“Have faith in God. For…whoever SAYS to this mountain, ‘Be removed…and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he SAYS will be done, he will have whatever he SAYS.’

And we wonder why our circumstances have had little to no improvement. Jesus said to SPEAK TO the mountain IN FAITH. But instead, we’ve been TALKING ABOUT the success of our mountainous coworkers, presidential and economic issues, racial disparities, and other affairs of life; which inadvertently have made them more popular, powerful, and prosperous.

Silent Deaths

I made a decision a few weeks ago to no longer broadcast what my enemies were doing. This means I am going to make every effort to no longer make known, mention, post, or discuss what they’re trying to do, have done or are up to. I’m no longer going to give my enemies free advertising. Because if what Proverbs 18:21 says is true, and it is, then my words are life-giving and as such, I can no longer allow my enemies to live in my mouth. I’ll no longer be like Roberta Flack and think I’m killing them softly with my words. I’ll just keep quiet and put them to a silent death. Won’t you join me?

Pray this with me: Heavenly Father, I have a tendency to want to talk about what the enemy is doing. Partly because I want him to know that I know and partly because I’m frustrated. Your Word says to love my enemies. So Lord, I’m asking You to teach me how silently love my enemies and I thank You for giving me words that will speak life into my situation. In Jesus’ name.

Copyright 2017 © Real Issues Ministries®. All rights reserved.

SOURCE

1 - Capps, Charles. “God's Word Is Truth.” Tongue: A Creative Force, Harrison House Inc,

2011, p. 121.