Are you ready for Challenge #1?    As I wrote earlier, to renew means to change.  Paul was speaking to those who became Christians to rid themselves of the world and those evil habits they had picked up in the world.  In other words, Paul was saying, we need to purify our minds.

One of the first steps in renewing our minds is in our conversation. Matthew and Luke both admonished us that the man’s heart determines his speech.  How can we say we are pure in heart if the words that come out of our mouth are not pure?  As Christians we must work on a daily basis through prayer and practice to make our conversation pure.  It has always troubled me that people could call themselves Christians and allow cursing, swearing, filthy conversation come out of their mouth.  If we really are Christians as we say we are, then our old life is dead to sin and it should not be coming from our lips.  James 1:8 says a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.  We can’t have a pure mind and have filthy language or be involved in inappropriate conversation with others. 

Paul wrote to the church while he was in prison in Ephesians Chapter 4.  He instructed us to throw off the old evil nature and put on the new nature which is in Christ.  Our attitudes and thoughts must change for the better becoming a new and better person.  Paul admonishes us to tell the truth for we as the body of Christ are joined together. So when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves also.  He goes on to say don't use bad language.  That means stop cursing and using language that is inappropriate at all times.  Nowhere does it say that it’s ok to talk inappropriate talk with our buddies just because we find it’s “cute and funny” or “it’s just the ladies” or “it’s just the men”.  Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing.  That includes telling others bad things about someone that has upset you.  That’s not blessing them.  That’s cursing them.  Paul said stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry.  Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ. We must learn to practice these things if  we call ourselves Christians.

1 Peter 1:15 says but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.  The word conversation in the Greek is described as our behavior. If we think it is ok to curse every once in a while, or have inappropriate conversation for fun every once in a while, we are sadly deceived.  Sweet water and bitter water both can’t come from the same fountain any more than light and darkness can mix together.  We are either one or the other.  A person who is pure of heart sees goodness and purity in everything; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears. Such persons claim they know God, but from seeing the way they act, one knows they don't. They are rotten and disobedient, worthless so far as doing anything good is concerned (Titus 1:15-16). 

David said in Psalms 24:4-6, Only those with pure hands and hearts, who do not practice dishonesty and lying. They will receive God's own goodness as their blessing from him, planted in their lives by God himself, their Savior. These are the ones who are allowed to stand before the Lord and worship the God of Jacob. Ephesians 5:1-9 says follow God's example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father.  Be full of love for others, following the example of Christ who loved you and gave himself to God as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, for Christ's love for you was like sweet perfume to him.  Let there be no sex sin, impurity or greed among you. Let no one be able to accuse you of any such things.  Dirty stories, foul talk, and coarse jokes-these are not for you. Instead, remind each other of God's goodness, and be thankful.  You can be sure of this: The Kingdom of Christ and of God will never belong to anyone who is impure or greedy, for a greedy person is really an idol worshiper-he loves and worships the good things of this life more than God.  Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the terrible wrath of God is upon all those who do them.  Don't even associate with such people.  For though once your heart was full of darkness, now it is full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it!  Because of this light within you, you should do only what is good and right and true.

Wow!  The Word of God is really strong in our manner of conversation.  You are probably thinking right now, Tammy your thoughts are pretty harsh!  But I didn’t write these scriptures. This is God’s Word! The Word is here to expose that which is not pleasing in God’s sight.   Hebrews 4:12-13 says for whatever God says to us is full of living power: it is sharper than the sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are. He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him to whom we must explain all that we have done. Is your mind conformed to this world or is it transformed to Christ?

We must take control of our conversations and ask God to forgive of our impure thoughts and conversations.   Forgiveness means that we will make an 180 degree turn in the opposite direction and continue in that direction not looking back at any time.  There are so many scriptures concerning our conversation.  I challenge you over the next 30 days to stop all conversation that is not pleasing to God and see what a change it will make in you. Are you up to the challenge?
 
*All scriptures are taken from The Living Bible and King James Version.