“Your Windshield Washer Fluid Is NOT Fine”!

It’s safe to say that car mechanics know how to fix. your vehicle better than you!  Either from book knowledge, special training  and/or loads of experience, they know your vehicle better than you!  If you have a problem with your vehicle, you want it fixed by an expert so it is done right.  And if possible, the original people who built the vehicle is preferred!

So too with us in our personal lives when we face trials of many kinds (lost job, sickness, divorce, tragedy), who better to help us than THE ONE who made us!  But too often the initial first response is to call a friend or try to go through the ordeal alone.  

Likewise with our broken down vehicle, we may try to go it alone and fix it either ourselves or get a friend who knows a little about cars, or pay the rock bottom price for someone less qualified.  It may get a temporary fix, but ultimately it may not last and stand the test of time. 

In our personal lives, even though you may turn to God for help, He’s not fixing things like you want.  The pain isn’t leaving quickly.  The extra money you need is no where in sight.

This is where we have to realize God’s timing is not our timing.  He knows exactly what needs to be done and when.  While we are focused on the BIG problem, God is working on a smaller issue that needs to be fixed within us.

For example, early in our marriage I developed a nasty temper, an interfering voice and presence.  I became mouthy, impatient and down right mean!  Regardless of what worldly circumstances I could blame it all on, it didn’t matter!  I had become my own worst enemy and my husband and children were having to live with it!  

I needed to be fixed!   I needed help!  

I needed to:  “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

 Instead of removing all the obstacles that I blamed for my bad behavior, God worked on one little part of me at a time!  And ever so slowly, I started to become closer to Him.  And He began to chip away all those nasty traits.  Did it happen quickly?  Overnight?  Within a month?  No, it took time for me to slowly recognize and lean on God to help me change each negative aspect of my being!  But wow, was it worth it!!

On the old TV series, “Seinfeld”, there was an episode in which an over-zealous mechanic treated the vehicles as his own property.  He even got upset with the owner for not checking the washer fluid!  As the owner pleaded that his washer fluid was fine, the very disgruntled mechanic barked back this response, “YOUR Windshield Washer Fluid Is NOT Fine”!!  As humorous as the scene was, it is a constant reminder in my personal life to pay attention to even the smallest areas of my life and make sure they are in check, like my attitude and temper.  And a lot of times I have to say my “windshield washer fluid is NOT fine”!  And then I proceed to search out verses pertaining to my weaknesses and commit them to God and let the Holy Spirit work on me!

The Sweet 16 – Keep Kindness on Your Lips

1.  “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

2.  “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.”  Psalm 34:13

3. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

4. “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”  Psalm 141:3

5. “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.”  Proverbs 10:11

6.  “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom.”  Psalm 10:31

7.  “A gentle answer turns away wrath…”  Proverbs 15:1

8. “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word!”  Proverbs 15:23

9. “A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.”  Proverbs 16:23

10. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it, will eat its fruit.”  Proverbs 18:21

11. “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”  Proverbs 25:11

12. “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”  Proverbs 31:26

13. “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.”  Isaiah 50:4

14. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgement for EVERY CARELESS WORD they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matthew 12:35-37 (bold letters by typist)

15. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  Ephesians 4:29

16. “For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”  1 Peter 3:10