For the past 18 days, the church I am honored to serve as Pastor has been on a Financial Fast. Based on Michelle Singletary’s book, The 21 Day Fast: Your Path to Financial Peace and Freedom, the purpose of the fast has been to help us save money, identify our spending patterns, break free from the shackles of materialism, mindless consumption, and consumerism, and to honor God by becoming more effective stewards of our financial resources. I am not sure what percentage of our congregation has participated in the fast, but I am sure that those who have will experience enormous benefits.

The big challenge in the Robinson household has been to refrain from dining out. But I am pleased to report that with three days to go, we have eliminated that expense from our budget this month. Although we are counting down to Sunday (LOL), the fast has served its intended purpose. I am amazed at how much money we have saved by not eating out, and how much of what we spent was due to poor time management and laziness.

Although it will never rank high on the popularity scale, fasting is an essential spiritual discipline. Jesus practiced it (Matthew 4:2), assumed that his followers would (Matthew 6:16-18),, and taught that certain miracles were impossible without it (Matthew 17:14-21). While fasting from food and water is the biblical baseline, any behavior that seeks to control or influence our behavior can be targeted with a fast. To paraphrase what Susana Wesley wrote to her famous son John, “whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things, or increases the authority of the body over the mind” must be identified and overcome. And one the most effective techniques of doing so is with a fast.

I already have an idea about the next fast that I want our congregation to undertake (I can hear the saints mumbling “another one???” LOL) I saw a book in my office a few days ago that I had only skimmed but finally fully read. The book is entitled Forty Day Word Fast by Tim Cameron and explores how to identify and eliminate toxic words from your vocabulary.. To be completely honest, I think that a word fast may be more difficult than a food or a financial one. At least for me, anyway lol. But I suspect that I may not be alone. Gaining control over our speech is, as the old folks would say, more than a notion In James 3:6-8, the Bible says this of our tongues:

And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

Our tongues are full of poison! And we spread that poison to our family members, our friends, our co-workers, and even to ourselves. The way we talk to others and the way we talk to ourselves is often poisonous.

According to one definition, poisons are “compounds that when ingested, absorbed, injected or inhaled cause disruption of normal body function usually through chemical reactions or activities on the molecular scale.” If we apply that definition to words, it is evident why words are so powerful. They can cause disruption and affect us at the molecular level.

Words disrupt dreams.

Words disrupt progress.

Words disrupt relationships.

And not only do words disrupt they affect us at the molecular level. They cause harm in the deep places of our hearts, minds, and souls. When I was growing up there was a jingle that I am sure you have heard: “sticks and stones may break may bones, but names will never hurt me.”. Well, whoever created that jingle should be sued. Or smacked. Well, maybe not smacked. But that jingle is profoundly incorrect.

Names hurt.

Jokes maim.

Insults sting.

Question: who or what are you poisoning with your words?

Proverbs 18:21 says that “life and death are in the power of the tongue.” Just as our creator brought the world into existence through speech (Genesis 1;1), we too can create or destroy worlds through the power of our words.

Question: are your words creating worlds or destroying worlds?

Bernard Meltzer has suggested that one the best ways to regulate your speech is to ask yourself three questions before you say anyting:

1. Is what I am about to say necessary?

2. Is what I am about to say helpful?

3. Is what I am about to say true?

If what you are about to say isn’t necessary, helpful, or true, then don’t say it.