Good morning people who are worth Jesus Christ dying for you.

The day inbetween Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday is Silent Saturday. Human minds can’t fathom the emptiness of this day to God the Father and to the Holy Spirit.

I find myself wondering what Father wants to say into this Silent Saturday.

For you, maybe it is an identification that God knows what it is like for everything to feel hopeless and lost. Jesus’ death was real. It was not symbolic or figurative. The Son of God was crucified, and now, He laid dead in a tomb. Dead was dead.

Maybe for you, Father wants to address your “Why did it have to happen this way?” With God, surely there could have been an easier way; a less costly way. Surely. Maybe this is how you feel too about areas in your life.

Maybe for others, Father wants to acknowledge your honest thought of “Does God even care?” It almost feels wrong writing this, but I believe God is big enough to hear our broken laments and cries. After all, it’s not without reason that Jesus uttered the following words:

Matthew 27:46 NIV About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

To all those who are hurting and broken, I pray you know the unequalled love of your heavenly Father today. I pray that His presence will surpass your understanding. I pray healing will flow in Jesus’ name.

To all of us, I want to remind us that, while it is Saturday, Sunday is still coming. There are no barriers that are greater or more powerful than God’s plans! No devil or demon in hell has the final word! No sickness or pain or disease is sovereign! Silence doesn’t mean final.

May we all find our hope in God alone today in Jesus’ wonderful and life-giving name.

Good morning people who honour and value the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

John 19:30 NIV When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

It is Easter Friday. It comes around every year. It’s nothing more than a public holiday for many, while for others, Jesus might get a passing thought or mention.

But for us as followers of Christ, it is infinitely more than this.

I asked Father what He would have me write about this Easter for BIY. Here’s what I heard Him say:

In all eternity, there is no comparison to the day the Son of God died.

I pray that this touches us all deeply.

The eternal Word and the only begotten of the Father died the cruellest death on a cross for all humanity. He deserved the highest crown and the greatest praise, and yet, He was nailed to a tree that He had created.

People needed a Saviour because of their sin. Animal sacrifices were a temporary measure for generation after generation. But God saw a better way. God made another way.

But it wouldn’t come cheaply, nor would it come easily. This new and better way would bring with it the greatest ever cost to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is not possible for us to comprehend the separation and the humiliation of the cross.

And yet, this is what our Jesus did for us.

Today is a day of extreme gratefulness. Words are insufficient. Therefore, what might be more acceptable and honouring are lives that are rededicated to be lived wholly for the Lord.

May Easter be a time of fresh surrender to the One who made us and who died for us.

Good morning people whose words literally release life into the atmosphere.

Proverbs 12:18 MEV There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health.

We’ve talked a lot about the effect of our words in our own lives. This is important. But it is equally important to consider the effect of our words in other people’s lives.

There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword.

This is talking about words that cut and destroy and kill. This is talking about words that pull down. This is talking about words that are contrary to the heart, tone and nature of God. This is talking about words that are too often spoken.

This is talking about words that are heard by others, as well as words that are spoken in secret or to other people. Gossip, slander and malicious talking causes deep damage, even if these words are never heard by the person being spoken about. Our words matter because our words contain within them the power of life and death.

The tongue of the wise is health.

This is the alternative to the words that are like the piercings of a sword.

There is healing and life and courage and hope in the tongue of the wise. There is destiny and purpose released through the lips of those who carry the heart of God. There is restoration and redemption and healing contained in the words of the wise.

Whether spoken directly to a person, spoken to others about a person, or spoken to God on behalf of a person, wise people release health through the careful words that they choose to speak. We always have more power in our tongue than we are aware of.

Is the fruit of your tongue heathly or damaging?

May our words always reflect the God of grace and truth.

Good morning people who learn by listening to the counsel of godly people.

Proverbs 12:15 MEV The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise.

Oh, how the second part of this verse is needed so much more in many believers’ lives.

Foolish people live with themselves as the highest authority in their life. At best, they listen to those who agree with them (hello somebody). If counsel is given that is contrary to what they want to do, the counsel is rejected. This way of living is folly.

However, a wise person listens to counsel.

Now, it is important to know what this word listen means. Of course it includes hearing words spoken, but it also carries with it the thought of giving attention to and obedience. We are not listening to counsel and being wise, if we simply hear the words spoken but do nothing about them.

I feel to not overstate this BIY today, but rather ask this very direct question:

Who are the people in your life that you listen to, and by listen to, I mean ‘hear and obey’ what they say?

Some of you instantly go to the thought that this is legalism. While there are some unfortunate situations where there has been abusive authority (and this is never right), we must not throw out the truth of God’s Word because of an error. Rather, we reclaim the truth.

Wise people listen to and obey godly counsel. That’s an absolute truth of life.

Good morning people who eat the fruit of the words that you speak.

Proverbs 12:14 MEV A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

The word satisfied means to have enough. I believe it is true that we all want to be satisfied with good. No one’s plan is to be satisfied with evil or dissatisfied with good. We want to be filled with all that is good.

According to this verse, one of the ways that this happens in our life is through the fruit of our mouth. This is talking about the words that we speak.

There is fruit in our words.

It is important to not equate being satisfied with good with everything going exactly how we would like it to be. In other words, the writer of Proverbs is not saying that if we speak right, everything will feel right and be ok. We can speak right and still battle with pain and sickness and challenges in our relationships. This is important to say.

So, what does this verse mean?

I believe that the state of walking in the goodness of God, including His joy and His peace, is part of the fruit of our words.

Speaking personally, I know that I feed on what I say. If I am complaining about “valid” difficulties, I am not being satisfied with good in that moment, and my feelings and thoughts reflect this. Conversely, I can be in the very same difficulties, and intentionally choose to give thanks to God and worship Him for who He is and all that He has done. This sacrifical act from a right focus empowers me to be satisfied with God’s goodness.

What is the fruit of your words?

May our words release deep and lasting satisfaction in the goodnes of God.