A Listening Ear Can Also a Running Mouth....

Humans can be so fickle.  One day people you thought were your friend will be your friend - next minute - without warning you become the enemy.  We seem to interview for a job with more clarity than we pick our friends and more often than not it takes something as painful as a betrayal before we "see" what we did not see - or what we chose not to see.  I was once cautioned to refrain from looking at life through rose colored glasses because you tend to miss the red flags.

Same scripture - two different versions let's know that this can happen.  So, what do you do?  Who do you bare your soul to?  I call it a whisper in the dark.  I talk to my Father.

This isn’t the neighborhood bully

    mocking me—I could take that.

This isn’t a foreign devil spitting

    invective—I could tune that out.

It’s you! We grew up together!

    You! My best friend!

Those long hours of leisure as we walked

    arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.

Psalm 55:12-14(MSG)

12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then 

I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me 

that did magnify himself against me; then 

I would have hid myself from him:

13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, 

my guide, and mine acquaintance.

14 We took sweet counsel together, and 

walked unto the house of God in company.

Psalm 55:12-14(KJV)

Likewise is true with this:  

Make this your common practice: 

Confess your sins to each other and 

pray for each other so that you can live together 

whole and healed. T

he prayer of a person living right with God 

is something powerful to be reckoned with. 

James 5:16 (MSG)

Confess your faults one to another, 

and pray one for another, 

that ye may be healed. 

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man

 availeth much.

James 5:16 (KJV)

Be sure you understand, I am not a theologian but what I am is practical and I also take common sense with me to church.  In confessing of my sin - I do not tell a "specific" issue 'cause people will prey upon your weaknesses - even in church.  The church used to be the cornerstone of the community and a safe haven for the hurting but over the years, if you wanna be hurt... go to church.  Yes, there are many places where people gather with the objective of serving God but the devil wears Prada, the devil knows scriptures and the devil is more than likely either sitting on your row with you disguised as a friend or church member or the devil is holding the microphone or directing the choir.  

I have learned a lot (the hard way).

Take common sense with you at all times.  Saying "NO" is a full sentence requiring no further explanation.  Take your burdens to the LORD and leave them there.  

Save a little bit of yourself - for yourself.