HEAVENSREEF

May you speak the language of grace today.  We have a choice from the moment we wake on how we will speak to those around us.  Are our words full of grace for one another or full of complaints about one another?  Do our words reflect compassion and light or judgement and darkness?

I think we all can admit that our words are often not nice.  The world pulls us in and so does social media with that awful send key.  Getting to the heart of the matter is the act of thanksgiving.  It is fundamental to gracious language.  Thanksgiving helps to change our hearts and the words of our mouths.

1 THESSALONIANS 5: 18   “BE THANKFUL IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS.”

Sweet speech is GOD’S desire for us.  Sweet speech should be our very own heart’s desire.  I don’t like me when I say mean things.  We often don’t think before we speak and spew hatred that is in our hearts.  Thanksgiving first gets us into a different mindset…….a mind and heart set on JESUS. 

THERE IS POWER IN WORDS THAT CAN ENCOURAGE AND BLESS.  BUT THERE IS ALSO POWER IN WORDS SAID THAT CAN DAMAGE A SOUL FOR LIFE.

PSALM 141: 3   “SET A GUARD OVER MY MOUTH, LORD; KEEP WATCH OVER THE DOOR OF MY LIPS.”

Let the LORD guard your words of your mouth before you do.  Let HIM change your heart first before you speak because a gracious heart results in gracious speech.

A couple of weeks ago our Pastor reminded us of this:  our mouths are not our own!  What a life-changing statement!  I never thought of my mouth that way.  Our speech belongs to CHRIST so our words are not our own.  Makes you rethink then, every word you say.  Speaking with kindness, goodness and grace reflects our SAVIOR.  

PSALM 39: 1   “I SAID, I WILL GUARD MY WAYS, THAT I MAY NOT SIN WITH MY TONGUE; I WILL GUARD MY MOUTH WITH A MUZZLE, SO LONG AS THE WICKED ARE IN MY PRESENCE.”

May we guard our hearts, minds and even our mouths so we will speak life to those around us, just as CHRIST did.  Read HIS red-letter words and be encouraged and convicted in speaking grace to those who need to hear.

Paul David Tripp says in his book: War of Words that “JESUS is the Word who is the only hope for our words.”  Remember HIM, next time you speak and know that JESUS provides all the grace we need to speak as GOD intended us to speak.

Oh the power of words!  What kind do you choose to speak today?

MATTHEW 10: 20   “FOR IT IS NOT YOU WHO SPEAK, BUT THE SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER SPEAKING THROUGH YOU.”