Words

I started taking Mandolin lessons about 7 months ago or so. It was a big thing for me to step out and even invest any kind of money in buying one let alone take lessons. But it was something I had always wanted to do. My teacher has been wonderful to encourage me along through much discouragement. I have had a hard time getting past some mental blocks. When I was in college, I was a vocal education music major. I had to take some instrument classes as well as vocal and how thrilled I was to see that I could take guitar! I signed up and eagerly dug around in storage at home until I found my dad's ancient guitar. I was a little disappointed when I found out it would be a classical guitar class, but hey - I just wanted to learn. As the semester progressed, I realized that things weren't going as well as they could be. At my final lesson, my teacher kindly stopped me during one of my songs and said, "Look, wow, you've tried real hard but you're a piano player, not a guitar player - I'm gonna go ahead and give you a B for effort - you can stop playing now." Granted I was thrilled with a B, but those words spoken so long ago killed something in me. It has always been a nagging dream way down deep in my heart to be able to play some sort of stringed instrument. But I could never shake off those words. Now, all these years later, I am finally beginning to break out of that slump.

I took my first guitar lesson last Wednesday afternoon...what fun it was! I've been playing and practicing all week - kicking the devil where it hurts the most! He loves to use people to plant words of discouragement in us to keep us from doing the very things we're gifted in! Often times it happens when we are children. Everyone has heard of "self-fulfilling prophecy" - living out words spoken over you. But these words carry spiritual weight as well. Scriptures says that if we cannot bridle our tongue, our religion is worthless and in vain - that the power of life and death is in the tongue. Scripture also says to guard your heart, for out of it flows the issues of life. We need to be careful of what words we are speaking and what words we are taking into our hearts. If you have been affected by words from your past, make the decision today to move out of that place you've been living - "like today never happened" - as the Switchfoot song, "Dare You To Move" says.

When should we schedule that first guitar lesson...?