hold on

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Prayerful Words
by

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Prayerful Words

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 17 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 fifteen with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words which are prayerful.

Choose Prayerful Words

“And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.”
1 Kings 8:59-60 (NIV)

How would you describe your prayer life?  Are you an act first, pray later person?  A pray first and act accordingly person?  Or is prayer something that seems impossible for you to figure out?  What is your first thought or reaction when you hear the verse, “Pray without ceasing.”?  Do you think your life would be different if you gave thought to choosing prayerful words in all circumstances?  How have the prayerful words of someone else been an influence in your life?

As one who has an unhealthy fear of people, God has always been the one I could talk with about anything.  But even having that comfort level when it comes to prayer, I must admit that I don’t use prayerful words with others as often as I should.  To use prayerful words more often, we must be deliberate in our listening to God and hearing what people are actually saying.  As you pray, thank God for always listening when you go to Him.  Pray that He would help you remember to seek Him for prayerful words to use in your conversations with others.  Pray that the people around you would value the wisdom that comes from prayerful words.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Praise-Filled Words
by

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Praise-Filled Words

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 18 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 fourteen with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words which are filled with praise.

Choose Praise-Filled Words

“My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.”
Psalm 35:28 (NIV)

How often do you like to hear people say good things about you?  Based on the words they hear from you, what would people think about your feelings toward God?  Are you more likely to talk about your struggles with disappointments in life or about how God has carried you through them?  Do you think your attitude toward life, and God, would change if you consistently chose praise-filled words?  How should God’s rescue of you from sin affect your desire to praise Him?

On-line reviews can be a complicated maze to work through when trying to determine a good place to visit or product to buy.  It seems everything has its share of fans as well as those who are disgruntled.  Sometimes I think people view a relationship with God that way too.  They have interest but they carefully evaluate what those who already know God say by their words and actions.  As you pray, ask God to fill your mouth with praise at all times.  Pray that you would learn to praise Him in times you consider good and in times you consider bad.  Pray that the people around you would hear a good review of God through the praise that is on your lips.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Powerful Words
by

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Powerful Words

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 19 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 thirteen with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words which are powered by God’s Spirit.

Choose Powerful Words

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NIV)

Have you ever been sold a product or idea by someone using slick, persuasive words?  How do you feel when you realize that is what happened?  How do you think that is different from someone using powerful words?  What makes a word powerful?  How often are you tempted to substitute gimmicks for real power?  How does having a greater authority behind your words affect the power that they carry?  How can you know that the words you use are powerful?

One of the greatest joys of ministry is seeing the power of God’s Word transform a life.  If you want to use powerful words instead of settling for words that are wise and persuasive by the world’s standards, you must become familiar with God’s Word.  As you pray, ask God to help you grow in your determination not to settle.  Pray that you would consume God’s Word in a way that it is natural for you to use it in your daily speech.  Pray that you would be bold enough to speak the most powerful word in the world — the name of Jesus!  Pray that the people around you would come to know Jesus through the words you choose.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Pleasant Words
by

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Pleasant Words

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 20 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 twelve with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words which are pleasant.

Choose Pleasant Words

“The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction. Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools. A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Proverbs 16:21-24 (NIV)

When you think of the word pleasant, what first comes to mind?  How much does what you hear influence the pleasantness of a particular place or situation?  Have you ever been spoken to harshly?  How did it make you feel in general?  How did it make you feel toward the person speaking?  How does a person’s tone of voice affect your willingness to take instruction?  Would the people around you say that the words you most often use are pleasant?

It is amazing how often people are willing to help if you ask nicely.  I’ve been in a variety of situations when a pleasant word to a waitress or other service industry person brings about a remarkable change in their desire to serve.  Few of us like to have things demanded of us, so why is the power of pleasant words such a surprise?  As you pray, ask God to help you hear your speech, both in tone and content, from His perspective.  Pray that you would stop and think about what pleasant words would sound like in every situation you face.  Pray that you would represent Christ well by your choice of pleasant words.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Overflowing Words
by

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Overflowing Words

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 21 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 eleven with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words which overflow from a life of God’s goodness.

Choose Overflowing Words

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”
Luke 6:45 (NIV)

What is your heart, mind, and soul filled with?  How do you know?  What types of words tend to flow the easiest from your mouth?  Would your friends and family say you often use harsh words?  Critical words?  Angry words?  Peaceful words?  Loving words?  Thoughtful words?  Are you more likely to use words described in the chapters of this book or words that are opposite in nature?  What would it take to change the words you use?  How much effort will you put into doing so?

When something overflows, the thing that comes spilling out the top is representative of whatever is inside.  The same is true of the things that overflow from our heart and spill out through our mouth.  When I find that the words which flow from my mouth effortlessly are hurtful, angry words, then I know I need a heart check-up.  As you pray, ask God to help you hear what kind of words overflow out of your heart and through your mouth.  Pray that He would fill your heart with such good things that it is only good and beneficial words which overflow from your life.  Pray that the people around you would be blessed by your godly words.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Living Words
by

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Living Words

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 22 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 ten with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words which are living.

Choose Living Words

“He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us.”
Acts 7:38 (NIV)

Are there words that make you feel more alive when you hear them?  Do you think the words you use often make others feel more alive?  When you think of Moses receiving words from God, what first comes to mind?  Do you often think about the laws of God being given as words which bring life?  How does God’s commentary that the words given to Moses on Mount Sinai were meant to be living words passed on to us change your view of them?

I’ve worked in a variety of places where I have allowed the discouraging words of my bosses to bring a sense of death to my mind.  Their words definitely brought death to those specific jobs.  I’ve also had coworkers and friends who have spoken encouraging words to me in the same situations.  Sometimes the major difference between deadly words and living words is the attitude behind them and the attitude with which they are received.  As you pray, ask God to help you accept His laws as living words in your life.  Pray that you would be filled with His love as you speak to others about the Word of God — the only words which can bring life eternal.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Known Words
by

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Known Words

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 23 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 nine with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words which are known.

Choose Known Words

“Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.”
Psalm 139:4 (NIV)

Which is easier for you, having a conversation with someone who has no idea what you are talking about or with someone who can finish your sentences?  Have you ever tried talking with someone who seems to know the same words that you do but uses them in a completely different way?  Are there times when you struggle for just the right word to say in a particular situation?

Some time back I received a call from a salesperson and when the call was finished my wife asked me what it was about.  My honest answer was that I had no idea!  The person was using words that I knew but in a way that had no meaning to me.  Sometimes I think that happens when we pray.  We try so hard to make our prayers sound like we think prayers ought to sound that we end up having no idea what we’re talking about and completely miss what God wants to say to us.  As you pray, take comfort in knowing that God knows the words of your heart even before they enter your mouth.  Pray that you would have consistent time in God’s Word so that you will know what His words will sound like.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Just Words
by

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Just Words

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 24 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 eight with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words which are just.

Choose Just Words

“The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.  The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.”
Psalm 37:30-31 (NIV)

How important is it to you that your words are right and true?  Do you value that at least as much as your desire for the words of others to be just?  How do you define justice?  Do you think your definition influences how you perceive words that are just?  How do the laws of God help you understand true justice?  How often do you think about using God’s Word as the standard for the words you choose?    How does your choice of words reflect the righteousness and wisdom which come from God?

Sometimes it is easier to choose words that you believe people want to hear rather than speak words that you know are right and true.  It is our relationship with Christ that helps us to speak words that are needed in ways that are right.  As you pray, ask God to help you understand His words to you which are just.  Pray that God would give you the wisdom necessary to speak words that are just.  Pray that the people around you would know because of the words you use that there is a way that is right and true.  Pray that your words that are just would always be spoken in love.

In prayer,

Tom