Everybody's a critic
At least that's what the world says
While a certain amount of correction is constructive, even healthy
Criticism seldom produces stellar results
What we really need is encouragement
We need to nourish good choices
and stop harping on the poor ones
That doesn't mean we turn a blind eye to poor choices
as it is important to see how poor choices have bad consequences
That's what accountability and responsibility are all about
So why is being a critic such a bad deal?
Criticism is about pointing out the negatives
In a perverse way it's a form of praise
It gives emphasis on what went wrong, what went bad
Indictment, finger pointing
and worst of all, accusation
Seems to me there is one whose name means accuser
Satan
Negative praise, blame casting
finger pointing and critical harping
are devil's food
When we become downcast or angry because we are injured by others
We need to be careful not to become critical
John, Peter, Paul, they could have become critical of those who
wounded them
Yet they sang hymns, praised God while in prison, while being flogged
Instead of rehearsing their woes they praised God
They starved the devil and brought in God
It is written that man does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God
God's word is our food
Satan's only source of food is our words
Praise God and He'll be there
God inhabits the praises of His people
but if your words are full of negative praise
Satan gets the glory
AND, you'll be feeding the snake
{12:36} But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. {12:37} For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Matthew 12:36-37
Keep watch over your words
{18:21} Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 18:21
![[pulsating cross]](astar2.gif)
