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Watch Your Mouth: Choose Joyful Words
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Watch Your Mouth: Choose Joyful 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 25 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 seven with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use joyful words.

Choose Joyful Words

“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.”
Psalm 16:8-9 (NIV)

Has your day ever been brightened by a note, text, or call from someone?  Have you ever had the experience of a timely word bringing joy to your life?  How do you feel when you can visibly see your words bring joy to another person?  How does knowing God’s presence is with you influence your expressions of joy?  Does your faith give you reason to rejoice in all circumstances?  How does expressing your joy in Christ help you overcome or endure difficult situations?

Often times when circumstances are difficult it is hard to remember God’s command to express joy.  You might want to look at what Paul means when he writes, “Rejoice always!”, if you’re trying to figure out when God commanded that.  I’m the first to admit there are times when choosing joyful words is extremely difficult.  As you pray, ask God to help you be constantly aware of His presence and the joy He brings into your life.  Pray that you would learn how to be honest about your situations and still choose joyful words.  Pray that the people around you would be encouraged by your words of joy.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Guarded Words
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Watch Your Mouth: Choose Guarded 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 26 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 six with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to guard your words.

Choose Guarded Words

“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Psalm 141:3 (NIV)

How do you choose what to say?  Do you believe that everything you think ought to be spoken?  What do you think God’s command to take every thought captive would say about that?  Have you ever used words that you later wished you could take back?  Could you?  Does honesty require you to speak everything that comes to your mind?  Have you ever been dishonest simply because you felt you had to say something?  How can choosing guarded words help you to be honest with others?

We all know people who seem to blurt out some of the most inappropriate things at the most inopportune times — perhaps we’ve been that person.  As David prays, he asks God to set a guard over his mouth so it doesn’t draw him into evil.  Unguarded words have a way of causing pain and hurt to others and even to ourselves.  As you pray, join the Psalmist in praying that God would set a guard over your mouth.  Pray that you would engage your heart and mind before you put your tongue into overdrive.  Pray that truth and love would guard the words you choose each day.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Glorifying Words
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Watch Your Mouth: Choose Glorifying 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 27 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 five with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words which glorify God.

Choose Glorifying Words

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 15:5-6 (NIV)

What first comes to mind when you hear the word glory?  Have you ever talked, or heard someone talk, about returning something to its “glory days”?  What is meant by that?  What causes something, or someone, to no longer receive glory?  How might unity among believers lead to words which glorify God?  How does disunity hinder such glory?  Do you give much thought to whether your everyday words glorify God?  How could you glorify God with the words you use in everyday conversations?

A few years ago, a local sports team used the phrase “return to glory” as a rallying cry for their season.  While a lot of this had to do with a desire for improved play, there was also an element of needing to change the way the program was being talked about.  Sometimes our attitude removes glory from God when we fail to choose words which honor Christ.  As you pray, ask God to help you give glory to Him through the words you use with the people around you.  Pray that the unity you have with fellow believers would cause you to choose words which glorify God.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Gentle Words
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Watch Your Mouth: Choose Gentle 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 28 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 four with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use gentle words.

Choose Gentle Words

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

When was the last time someone’s harsh words have caused you pain?  When do you think the last time was that your harsh words hurt someone?  Is it easy to respond to the harshness of others with gentle words?  What is required to do so?  How have you been influenced by the gentle words of others?  Have you experienced a dissolving of hurt and anger in your life through the gentle words that others have spoken to you?

The writer of Proverbs states that a gentle answer can turn away wrath but it can also break a bone!  Gentle words are not a sign of weakness; rather they are a sign of appropriateness.  We must choose gentle words because they are right.  It is God’s gentleness with us that restores us to Him.  As you pray, ask God to give you a moldable heart that is filled with gentleness.  Pray that the words you choose to use would reflect the gentleness that God has used with you.  Pray that the people around you would see the Spirit of God in you as you speak gently to them.  Pray that you would know how to combine truth and gentleness in your words.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Exhorting Words
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Watch Your Mouth: Choose Exhorting 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 29 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 three with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use words of exhortation.

Choose Exhorting Words

“Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter.”
Hebrews 13:22 (NIV)

What comes to mind when you think of the word, exhortation?  Is it a positive thought, negative thought, or somewhat neutral?  When have you been most in need of being exhorted — urged or spurred on to action?  Are there ways of delivering exhortation that makes it more likely to be heeded?  How does your receptiveness to exhortation influence your ability to effectively exhort others?  Are there things that make it easier for you to choose exhorting words when the people around you need to hear them?

The writer of Hebrews concludes the book with a request that the reader would bear with his words exhortation.  Urging someone to follow through with right behavior is not always an easy thing to do and often not something that people eagerly listen to.  As  you pray, ask God to help you receive words of exhortation with an open heart, spirit, and mind.  Pray that you would be filled with God’s love when you need to choose exhorting words to speak to others.  Pray for wisdom in exhorting others to love and good deeds.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Encouraging Words
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Watch Your Mouth: Choose Encouraging 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 30 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 two with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to use encouraging words.

Choose Encouraging Words

“When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia.  He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece.”
Acts 20:1-2 (NIV)

Who is your greatest encourager?  What things do they do and say that you find encouraging?  What part does tone and attitude have in the words you hear being encouraging?  What words are most effective in helping you to overcome discouragement?  How often do you find yourself speaking those words to others?  Do you make it a practice to spread encouragement to others wherever you go?

Often times it is in the midst of great confusion and turmoil that a voice of encouragement is most needed.  Following a riot in Ephesus, Paul spent time encouraging the believers in the city before continuing his travels.  Even as he traveled, he stayed focused on speaking words of encouragement to the people he met.  As you pray, ask God to help you gain words of encouragement through your time in His Word.  Pray that the encouragement you receive from Him, and others, would be shared by you to all you meet.  Pray for the wisdom to use encouraging words that fit each situation you face.

In prayer,

Tom  

Watch Your Mouth: Choose Assuring Words
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Watch Your Mouth: Choose Assuring 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 31 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 one with an important reminder that watching our mouth will lead you to use assuring words.

Choose Assuring Words

“And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes — words of goodwill and assurance — to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation.”
Esther 9:30-31 (NIV)

What things tend to make you anxious and fearful?  Have you ever had someone try to assure you that things would be okay at a time when you had lost all hope?  What does it take to help you have a more positive view of circumstances which look bleak?  Are there specific words or phrases that help assure you when you are doubtful about a situation?  How is God’s Word useful in giving you assurance?  How can you use God’s Word to assure others?  How often would your friends say you use words which bring assurance to them in times of their fears?

As the Jewish nation celebrated God’s rescue of them through the courage of Esther, the queen and Mordecai wrote assuring words to all the people.  These words were an assurance that this occasion would be remembered throughout time as a reminder of God’s ability to rescue.  As you pray, ask God to  help you know the assurance He gives regarding His ability to rescue you.  Pray that you would use words which assure others of God’s desire and ability to be with them in the times of their greatest need.

In prayer,

Tom  

Walk This Way: Walk a Path With God
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Walk This Way: Walk a Path With God

Every day you and I face a variety of choices regarding the path we take.  Many things influence our decisions for both good and bad, yet God wants us to choose daily to walk according to His ways.  Today concludes sharing from the devotional journal, “Walk This Way”, with the prayer that it helps you to grow in your walk with God as you pursue a greater understanding of the path He calls you to.

Here is day thirty-two with an important reminder that walking God’s way will lead you on a path with Him.

Walk a Path With God

“What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.  Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.  I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’”
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 (NIV)

As you consider the previous thirty-one topics we have looked at, what have been your favorite walk this way topics?  Why were they your favorite?  How do you feel now about walking a path with God?  Does following God’s way in your walk seem appealing to you?  Have you ever wanted to spend time with someone but were hesitant because you were unsure if they wanted to be with you?  Does knowing that God wants to walk with you give you confidence in pursuing a walk with God?

God has said throughout scripture that His desire is to call a people to Himself to be His people and that He will be their God and walk among them.  He has reached out to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and calls us to leave behind the way of the world in order to walk in holiness with Him.  As you pray, ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His desire for you to walk with Him.  Pray that you would always be mindful of God’s presence as you walk a path with Him each day.  Pray that the people around you would hear from you of God’s desire to walk with them also.  Pray that they too would seek to walk with God.

In prayer,

Tom