Mean What You Say,...

Good Morning!! It is so easy for us to fall into the trap of repeating our instructions, or behavior speaks against what we claim to want. We are sometimes just too afraid to follow through with consequences that we've promised,...so we hope that if we give them one more chance, they’ll comply. We are to say what we mean, and mean what we say, or we run the risk of not being believed at all,...it's hard to take a liar seriously.
In studying some the most admirable and successful generals in history, you'll found that they all had one thing in common,...they were certain of their commands before they issued them.
All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.—Matthew 5:37 (NIV)

Therefore, we should never issue a warning or a command without following it through. If you say you won't put up with something, then don't. This rule of thumb requires that we think before we speak. Try not to say "yes" or "no" to something until you are sure that it is your definite answer. According to Proverbs 15:28 it is biblical that we not speak before thinking: "The heart of the righteous weighs its answers."  Let us weigh our answers, give confident commands, and be a mighty army for the Lord!

No one will respect or respond well to an uncertain and inconsistent instructions.

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Father God,  help us to be strong and confident in Your words, and ours. Help us to say what we mean and mean what we say. When we're fearful the reactions of the consequences we've set forth, for the people in our lives,...give us the strength to follow through, rather than giving them threats, or repeating our wishes again, and again. Help us to consistent, with love and self-control. Amen.

"If we don't believe, or struggle to believe, we are doubters.
But it's not that doubters simply don't believe,...it's that they don't really trust"