Love in Action: Watching What We Say

As we continue to grow in spiritual maturity all areas of our live are indelibly changed for the good.  It is not only something we know, but we begin to unknowingly bear fruit that others can see.  Part of that for some of us is that the way we speak begins to change.  

We began to realize the power we have with our words.  Not only to speak and make great professions of faith, but also how we speak to people in our every day lives.  How we communicate with co-workers, children, spouses, friends, difficult people; how we speak to everyone.  We can never be perfect but when we have Christ as our center we are always moving...progress not perfection.  

Ecclesiastes 8:1 - There's nothing better than being wise, Knowing how to interpret the meaning of life. Wisdom puts light in the eyes, And gives gentleness to words and manners. No One Can Control the Wind

Ecclesiastes 10:12- The words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs


Proverbs 15:14  Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim. 

Proverbs 16:21 A wise person gets known for insight; gracious words add to one's reputation. 

Proverbs 18:20  Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. 

Proverbs 18:21  Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit--you choose.
 

Proverbs 21:23 Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief. 

Proverbs 25:11 - The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, 

Ephesians 5:26  - Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, 

1 Thessalonian 5:11 - So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it. The Way He Wants You to Live 

James 3:3-12 - 

 3 A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. 4 A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. 5 A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything--or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire.6 A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. 7 This is scary: You can tame a tiger, 8 but you can't tame a tongue--it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. 9 With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. 10 Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can't go on. 11 A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? 12 Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? Live Well, Live Wisely

I used to have the sharpest tongue this side of the Mississippi.  My father says my tongue was so sharp that a person would be rather blacked physically than to hear my cutting words.  When I became a Christian I wanted to love and power of God to overflow and overtake me.  He began that work long ago and will continue it until I am united with Him.  

During a season in my life when I was dealing with an extremely difficult person I reverted back to my old ways of cutting with words.  The relationship I had with God and my willingness to "listen" to his written word I began to become painfully aware that each word I speak matters.  Today I am not perfect, but I am learning to harness my tongue.  I want to be responsible for building and not breaking down.  I did more than a lifetime of damage with my words.  That was the old me...As I began to grow in fullness of Christ he uncovered this opportunity for growth.  I am thankful today that there is less harm coming out of my mouth.  One day I hope to have grown to complete maturity in this area.  I get tired of saying sorry:)  Have a loving day today!!!