Correction is the Blessing!
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
In 2019, I made a decision, and I told Jesus that I would live for Him for the rest of my life. I had been saved since a child, but somewhere, somehow the deceptions and the wrong turns had set into my life, stifling my growth. I fell away from my first love in college, but in 2015, He scooped me up in His arms and recreated my entire self. He was faithful, but there were un-surrendered parts of myself. Thankfully by 2019, I finished. I had come to the end of myself. I could accomplish NOTHING or be anyone other than a child of the Most High.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 ESV)
Jesus reconciled me to the Father and set a new fire in my soul. That year, I gave Him my career, my family, my talents, and my writing. I handed Jesus my dream to be an author—for good, for bad, for His eyes and His audience was all that mattered.
Now, I would love to confess that all was good for me from that point on, yet I must admit that as soon as we give ALL to Jesus that ALL HELL breaks loose. The warfare took off, but my imagination and my creativity continued to blossom in Him. I have found that with each book He allows me to publish, He is working through some spiritual debris inside of me. He prunes through my creative process.
“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2 ESV)
This latest book is about a young man in the first grade who wears a metaphorical box on his head to represent the lack of listening and the lack of self-control over his mouth. Liam often gets upset because he believes the book is about him, but deep down, this book is fully about what needs to be pruned away in my life.
I am still learning to monitor my mouth. By the time this book went live on Amazon, I fully believed that the Holy Spirit and Jesus had already helped mold my mouth into a usable vessel. Unfortunately, just this month, my mouth has flown open with boasts about all kinds of mess that I have no business talking about to anyone. Yet, here is Jennifer Greene (the old me) just running off at her mouth yet again.
“From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:10 ESV)
That well-trained flesh machine has fallen back into old unfortunate patterns. Since September 15, the Holy Spirit has pointed out at least three situations that I grieved Him with my superfluous, boastful conversations. Some conversations were in public, and I hurt my witness as God’s daughter. Here I am a 47-year-old sinner falling short in need of repentance and of grace.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 ESV)
Here I am in need of a spiritual makeover. I have been praying that the Lord would represent me to a few people who have been told falsehoods. I have asked that my fruit speak for itself, yet here I am crudely and rudely removing all doubt to others that I am just as worldly as any other woman out here. How can I even ask God to represent me well to people who have been lied to when I am not a true representation of Jesus who died to save me, to redeem me, to resurrect me, to restore me, and to give me FREEDOM.
Jesus, I take the time right now to pour out my poor excuses and give up my impoverished mouth to you yet again. I ask you to make an unclean yet willing vessel whole again. Come into my flesh and restructure my mind, my heart, and especially my mouth.
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29 ESV)
Prune away the debris and leave me a woman on fire for You with a regenerated and renewed heart and a regenerated and renewed mouth by You, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. Give me another opportunity to represent You well and to love others like You do. Give me another chance like Charlie received in The First Grade Chatterbox. Remind me that correcting me is loving me. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you.
Living for God’s Glory Means Transparency
Living for God’s glory means that you are transparent. I am honest about my boastful, sinful mouth. I must apologize to my brothers and sisters I was in conversation with, then I have given it to Jesus.
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13 ESV)
When we are washed from the inside, the waters often get deep, rough, and choppy. However, Jesus walked on water as well as calmed it. He is the living water that flows forward in my life.
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38 ESV)
Jesus, today and every day, remake me into Your image. Allow me to abide again, to climb out of the spiritual hole of my own making through You and Your grace and Your mercy.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)
Challenge for Today
Take a moment to listen to your words today. Are they building others up or tearing them down? Write down one conversation where you can intentionally speak life instead of boastfulness or negativity. Then pray over that situation, asking Jesus to guide your tongue and renew your heart.
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3 ESV)
Closing Prayer
Father, I surrender my mouth, my words, and my heart to You. Forgive me where I have spoken out of pride or carelessness. Wash me clean and prune away what does not bring You glory. Lord, fill me with Your Spirit so that every word I speak reflects Your love, Your truth, and Your grace. Help me to live as a transparent vessel—one who abides in You daily. Thank You for new mercies each morning and for the gift of transformation through Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen.
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The Aging English Major 