36
Hours
The tongue has the power of life and
death…
Proverbs 18:21
Greg was frustrated with his
physician’s apparent insensitivity to his chronic health issues.
Motivated by the discomfort he’d been experiencing for over two
months he said, “I wish he could experience what I've been going
through for just 36 hours, Lord! Then, maybe he’d have a little
empathy!”
Seeking distraction, Greg decided to
mow the lawn and get in a quick work out. With the two tasks
complete, he headed for the shower. As he rinsed his hair some water
got in his ear. Greg shook his head to clear it. The results of that
little act were devastating! Immediately he became disoriented,
unable to stand without support. His eyesight diminished and his
breathing became labored. He struggled to rinse off; getting dried
and into his clothes left him completely exhausted. His symptoms
worsened with each passing moment, and by the time he reached the
living room he believed he was having a stroke.
Stumbling to the phone, he called his
wife. When she and her sister (an LPN) arrived,
Greg was sitting on the couch, sweating profusely, unable to raise
his arms or legs. His face was getting numb on the right side, and
his speech was slurred. They dialed 911.
Three hours later, the ER Doctor
diagnosed Greg: “You've had a severe vestibular
inner-ear event. It is a disorder that can strike the nervous system
as well, for unknown reasons, causing multiple symptoms. A cascading
effect from pressure in your inner ear affected your Vagus nerve,
which in turn began shutting down parts of your nervous system.”
Greg was released, yet experienced
diminished symptoms until he awakened on Sunday morning. It was then
he realized the event lasted about 36 hours. Greg heard God say,
“Your words carry power. Be careful with them.”
†
Did God give Satan permission to show
Greg the error of his ways? One thing is for sure, whether the enemy
asked or not, God allowed it to happen.
Greg spoke out of frustration, and
perhaps he had good reason, yet his words were not without effect.
Everything we say aloud can be heard by Satan and his minions, and
whether we believe it or not they act on that knowledge. Even in our
deepest frustration, to ask God to inflict misery on another is
foolish.
Our words can be soothing and edifying.
Or, they can bring devastation on a scale we have not yet imagined.
Prayer
“Help me be conscious of
what I say. Lord. Make me aware of the power of spoken words. In
Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
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