Every day you and I give people an impression of who Jesus is by the words we use.  Are they hearing, or reading, words from you which would draw them to Christ or push them away?  Are you using words which draw you into greater relationship with God or words which create distance?  Over the next 15 days I will be sharing from the devotional journal, “Watch Your Mouth”, with the prayer that it helps you discover some of what God has to say about choosing words which honor Him.

Here is day seventeen with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words which are pure.

Choose Pure Words

“Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.”
Psalm 17:3 (NIV)

How important is purity to you?  Does that answer change depending on what we attach the word pure to?  Are you concerned about the purity of the food and water you eat and drink?  Why?  Have you ever thought about the purity of the words you use, and listen to, being even more important than the purity of your food and drink?  How do you feel when you know pure words are being spoken to you?  How will you use pure words to protect your heart and encourage others?

In today’s culture, sexual purity is probably the first thing that comes to mind when most people hear the word purity.  While that is an important area of purity, God teaches that impurity in any area of our life comes as a result of our thoughts and words.  James says that if anyone could completely control their tongue they would be a perfect person.  As you pray, ask God to help you listen to the pure words that are found in scripture.  Pray that the words that come from your mouth would always be pure in content and intent as you seek to build up others according to their need.

In prayer,

Tom