I think a lot about words. I mean A.LOT. Did I mention a lot? I’m thinking God is
pretty serious about mine as He continues to convict me. Words are life and
death. The Bible has much to say about them. Words can curse ... like sarcasm,
ugly words, negative words, jokingly negative words, harassing words meant to
be funny, smart-alec comments, name-calling, arguing, bating, antagonizing,
words spoken under your breath, words that are disrespectful and the list goes
on. And, frankly, it's not just words that hurt, but also the tone and facial
expression and loudness of them that add to their meaning.
This picture captures it perfectly ... what happens when we
use words that curse and do not bless. I don't know about your house, but this,
sadly, happens at mine and I hate it. I hate watching it. I hate listening to
it and I hate the most when I am a participant in it. And, while it doesn't
happen every day, when it does, it hurts my throat, hurts my head and it hurts
my heart and the heart of the receiver and the heart of the giver and, worst of
all, it hurts God's heart.
Speaking life looks like words of praise, words that honor,
words that encourage, words that lift up and build up, words that say “I love you” and words
that speak life and life to the full, words that are God's words, God's truth and that speak and declare God's truth over each other and over our lives. It’s pretty simple and joyful and feels
good and makes your heart warm and gives you confidence and grace and, let’s be
honest, when you are receiving blessing, you just want to bless others, too.
Yep.
Isaiah knew how important words were. He didn’t even want to
speak in the presence of the Lord.
- "Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5
Fortunately for
Isaiah (and for us), God has a plan to take care of it ...
- Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:6-7
This is a prayer of mine every day. Bless. Bless. Bless. It
doesn’t mean my words aren’t instructive or corrective. Jesus’ words were.
God’s words are. Hello, read the Bible. But His words bring life and speak
grace and mine need to, too.
The Bible says a lot about our words. Here are a few
examples:
- "How long will you torment me and crush me with words?" Job 19: 2 (DEATH)
- "The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.” Psalm 36:3 (DEATH)
- “Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees.” Job 4:4 (LIFE)
- “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24 (LIFE)
So, we are choosing to focus here ... on words and actions that
bring life ...
- "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
- “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18
- "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
- “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13
And, just keeping it real, this very day, as I typed this
blog post, we have had a day where we are repenting to each other and to the
Lord for words and tones of voices and facial expressions. Thankful He doesn't expect perfection, just progress. Praise Him for His
forgiveness. Praise our girls for theirs, with us and each other. And, since
His mercies are new every morning, we get to start fresh tomorrow standing in His
amazing grace and redemption.
* A great book to read about words: “The Power of
Your Words” by Robert Morris.
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