Be Slow to Speak

In the wildly successful book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne people were taught that if they only believed, things would happen. If you believe you are good enough for a promotion, you'll get it. If you believe that you deserve a new house, you shall have it. Basically, it says,

"Everything that’s coming into your life you are attracting into your life, and it’s attracted to you by virtue of the images you’re holding in your mind." 

Christians has scoffed at this book and it's teachings. While it seems like a religious book, it's teachings are not Christian. It speaks of the Universe rather than God.

Yet, many Christians truly believe that if you ask God, with good faith and earnest, you WILL get it. They point to Matthew 7:7-8  "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who keeps asking will receive, and the person who keeps searching will find, and the person who keeps knocking will have the door opened."

Are we to do God's will or is He to do ours?! We should pray asking for faith to do His will. We should search for His workings in our life. We should ask for His courage and the faith to do what He wants. We should knock on His door to have it opened in our life. Most Biblical scholars would tell you that the above verse means that when we pray, search, knock, and ask we are receiving the strength, courage, and wisdom to do God's will. Not for Him to do ours.
 
As someone on the receiving end of people twisting God's word I can tell you that we were told by several Christians while Jacob was sick that if we truly believe and ask God to heal him that Jacob will be healed. No ifs, ands, or buts.

So tell me this.Were we not good enough and therefore failed Jacob? Had our faith been stronger would he still be here with us?

Good people get sick. Bad things happen to the righteous. Everyone dies. What is faith if we tell God what to do rather than ask what He wants us to do? That's not to say that we can't ask, petition, and beg God for what we want. But in the end it is faith in God's will that will get us through the trial.
 Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Matthew 16:24 ^"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Does this not sound like Christians, giving up their lives for God, may have it a little harder? A little more challenge in their life? To deny our own wants and desires? To trust in HIS? 

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." This points out that our knowledge is so little compared to God's. 

My point is that as Christians we need to be so, so careful when speaking to those around us. We can single handily turn people away from Christ rather to Him, especially in trying times. Saying God is good when our dear friend recovers from an illness is all right and good, but isn't God also good when He brings his followers home to him? Praising God for a miracle that happens in front of us is also right and good, but shouldn't we praise God even when we have fallen to our knees with the weight of the world on our shoulders?  1 Thessalonians 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Had I not been strongly rooted in trusting God's own will during the end of Jacob's illness, I may had clung to those who claimed Jacob would be healed with just a little stronger faith. Just a little more prayer. And then I would have been more devastated, completely self-blaming when Jacob did pass away. I would have turned away from God. Questioned why my boy wasn't good enough to save. All because a few Christians took it upon themselves to tell me that I could save my son. 

We need to be careful with how we portray God's word. Romans 16:17   "And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them." Is it not on us if we are to twist God's word and actually turn people away from Christ, because of what we say?!

James 1:19 
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,"