Becoming a Mouthpiece for God

It was 11:15 pm and I had two choices. Go to bed like I wanted to do, or write like God was urging me to do. Satan proceeded to nag me about how tired I was and how bad my back hurt. The last few weeks have taught me a lot, so I sat down to write. For the first time in months, the words flowed. Almost faster than I could type. The thoughts seemed to be coming from the deepest part of my heart. I finished the prayer requests and hit send. But Satan wasn't finished causing havoc.

Mike has been getting up when James comes in from work at UPS, usually about 4 a.m. He spends a few minutes of man to man time, just talking about his night at work, or whatever James feels like sharing. I normally barely realize he's getting in and out of bed. This morning as he got back in bed, I woke up. We started talking and I mentioned that I'd written about him in the devotion. He said "Yes, I read it. But there's one problem with it." Problem? Where? No way!

He pointed out that I'd misquoted the verse from Psalm 51. I've read, heard and quoted this verse so many times in my life that I knew he must be mistaken. "Restore to me the joy of thy salvation". But that wasn't what I typed. And I had credited the plea to God to Paul instead of David. How in the world could I have made such a horrible mistake?

Immediately Satan jumped into my head. "I told you not to write when you were so tired" "You aren't worthy to do this ministry" "Everyone is going to point out your mistake, and the rest of the devotion just won't matter." For more than an hour I worried and even cried. Just as the deceiver wanted me to do.

I should have had more faith in my Father. I crawled out of bed this morning and went to my computer. I knew that I was going to have 50 e-mails pointing out my errors. Instead, there were encouraging words from friends. "James is so special to us, let me know if we can do anything to help." "What can I do for you to help you get ready for the wedding?" "Do we need to organize a team to help Mike with the housework that you can't do anymore." Not one person mentioned the misquote.

My aunt called and I began to tell her what I'd done. "No, you didn't...did you? I read it and I know it said David." I told her to read it again. She started laughing. "Yes, you sure did, but I didn't see it until you pointed it out." We continued to talk about times we'd committed similar errors. She admitted that more times than she could count, she would have one thought in her head, and what came out was completely different, including times when she had addressed one of her children by the wrong name.

Jeremiah 15:19 (NIV) says "if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be My spokesperson."

So many times I feel that one mistake can wipe out the entire message that God has given me. I read something I've written a week later and Satan will point out every typo, every missed letter, or added word, or incorrect punctuation. It is at those times that I go back to the words in Jeremiah and know that if I'm listening to God's urging for this devotion that HE will continue to be glorified.

But it isn't just this devotion. This principle applies in every aspect of our Christian walk. Satan is quick to point out our flaws and our sins, and to try to make us believe that we are no longer worthy to serve the Creator. It is then that we need to pray these words from the Psalms:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 (NIV)