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 5 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 twenty-seven with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to words of truth.

Choose Truthful Words

“Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.  I will always obey your law, for ever and ever.  I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.”
Psalm 119:43-45 (NIV)

How do you feel when you discover someone has deliberately lied to you?  Can a person be deceptive even when the words used are technically true?  When you consider the truthfulness of something, what is the basis for your conclusion?  What is the most necessary companion to truthful words?  Where would you go to find examples of truthful words spoken in love?  How confident are you that you are speaking truthful words when you share the Word of God?

Truth spoken with the wrong attitude and motives can do great damage yet the same truth spoken with compassion and in love can bring healing and restoration.  It is important when you choose truthful words that you use them in line with the instructions God give us in His Word.  As a Christian, your words ought to build up and encourage without shaming and tearing down the listener.  As you pray, ask God to fill you with His love for people so that your truthful words would always be spoken with an attitude of concern for the listener.  Pray that the truthful words you choose would have their foundation in God’s Word.

In prayer,

Tom