Words
Sometime back a Jackie Chan movie made the phrase, "Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?" very popular. Most assuredly the words that come out of our mouths are understood but are they beneficial? In Ephesians 4:29 the Bible says, "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." Now, when we think of unwholesome talk, of course, we think of slander, cursing, rudeness, and gossip just to name a few. This even includes gossip for the prayer list Y'all. You know what I'm talking about, someone request prayer for sister so-in-so and we automatically say, "tell me what's going on!" Well, we do not need all the details to pray for someone, all the juicy details we want would fall under the heading of gossip. Gossip is not beneficial. We would not want our sisters or brothers gossiping about us so we shouldn't gossip about them either.
Words, once they leave our mouths, cannot be taken back. So, we need to be very mindful of how we use our words. I know many people who have lived in a physically abusive relationship, I know many people who have lived in a mentally, verbally abusive relationship. Neither of these situations are good at all. Bruises will eventually heal but the mental and verbal abuse last a lifetime. I know in a fit of anger sometimes Mr. or Mrs. Nasty comes out and we just vomit words all over someone else. Sure going back and apologizing is always great but unfortunately, that person on the receiving end, may be able to accept the apology but those words are very hard to forget. In Proverbs 10:19 the word of God says, "Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues." The power of life and death are in our words, I urge you, beloved, to use your words wisely.
Mama always said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." I know in a moment of anger as humans we want to defend ourselves or at least have the last word! I find this especially true in families, I wish sometimes we could replay our conversations on video so we could hear how we talk to our own family. I believe we sometimes talk to our families in ways we would never dream of speaking to a stranger. I don't know who said blood is thicker than water but if that is the case we need to be kinder with our words to our families. Proverbs 15:4 says, "The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit." Now I don't know about y'all but I don't want to be a spirit crusher I would much rather be a soother.
Now I know this may sound like I am fussing, and I don't mean to fuss. I write with hopes of encouraging and lifting up. I write this today to remind you to be mindful of your words, and how they can be used for good or for bad. Proverbs 21:23 says, "Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity." I write this today if you have been hurt by someone else's words, I know it is hard to forget but pray that God will erase those words from your heart. My prayer for you today is that your words will be wise and helpful, beneficial, uplifting, and soothing. Proverbs 31:26 says, "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Let's be wise with our words.
Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us tongues to use to uplift others in your name. Please forgive us for any hurtful gossip or hurtful words we have used against others in our lives. Jesus, I pray for those that use hurtful words that you would convict them and have them repent. I ask for those that have had hurtful words imprinted on their hearts that you would erase all memory of those words. We love you Jesus, thank you for loving us.