He says what he thinks

In the throws of Super Tuesday yesterday, I engaged in a conversation about Donald Trump. The person I was speaking to had voted for him earlier that day and I wanted to understand why. Apparently there are millions of people who are voting for him and I just don’t get it. I don’t understand his appeal. My friend replied that she really likes that he says what he thinks. She said that she finds it refreshing.

Have any of you heard someone say this? I agree that Donald Trump absolutely says whatever he thinks, but recognizing this about him does in no way make him a more appealing candidate to me, and hearing people compliment him for saying whatever he thinks only exacerbates my confusion over him.

When did having a loose tongue become a good thing? We are warned from the time we learn to speak to be careful what we say.

“Be careful little mouth what you say… For the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful, little mouth what you say.”

Scripture wisely guides us to put a guard over our mouths. In the Holy Spirit’s never-ending job of sanctifying me, I am consistently grieved over my sinful thought life. If anyone knew the catty, snarky, judgmental, lustful, prideful, covetous, hateful, selfish thoughts that fill up my brain on a daily basis, they would hate me.

As confused as I am over the Donald Trump allure, here is what I know:

“Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,

And you will stay out of trouble.” Proverbs 21:23 (NLT)

“Those who control their tongue will have a long life;

Opening your mouth can ruin everything.” Proverbs 13:3 (NLT)

I also know that as great as the need is for our country to get on the right track, there is an even greater need for a great change to occur in me. I need to recognize the horror of my thought life. I need to be disgusted and grieved. I need not only to just guard my tongue, but be transformed so that one day, I will be able to say whatever is on my mind. I long for the day when the only thing on my mind is how wonderful Jesus is. I need to be consumed with love for Christ so that I am even more compelled to sing of his amazing grace. When I pay attention to how awful my thoughts are, I remember how great God’s help is and how amazing my heavenly support system is.

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

I also know that God knows every thought that invades my brain. Nothing is hidden from him and I did nothing to deserve his mercy, but because His love is so great and because my faith is in His son, His mercies toward me are new every morning. Praise Be to Him. He does great things.

 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews 4:13 (NLT)

“Carefully guard your thoughts

Because they are the source

Of true life.” Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends![

His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)