Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,… ~Colossions 4;6
I’ve been thinking a lot about our words lately. We focus so much today on the freedom of expression. We encourage the expression of ugly feelings, sadness, disappointments, and frustration. We encourage our children to express themselves with unfettered freedom. We excuse our ugly outbursts as understandable and expected.
There is a place for expression, but as I reflect on God’s Word, I see a different picture of what our words ought to look like.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1;26
In the Bible we are taught to harness our tongues, to give careful thought to our words, and to let our “gentleness be evident to all.” (Phil. 4;5) Our words are to reflect the One who indwells us. On a deeper level, we are admonished to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10;5)
Words reflect great power.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ~John 1;1
Jesus is referred to as the Word, and described as being full of grace and truth.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~John 1;14
God spoke the world into being with His words.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ~Genesis 1;3
Words reflect what lies beneath the surface. Words possess great power. Words are creative. Words matter.
Have you heard people say things like , “Don’t say it, it might come true?” There is more truth to this common thought than we realize. It’s called a self fulfilling prophesy. There is evidence that our minds believe what our words tell it.
Our children’s minds believe the words we speak.
As we travel through our days, do our words reflect the grace and truth of Jesus? Do we correct our children with grace and patience? Do our words reflect the fruit of the spirit even when we are exhausted?
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ~Galations 5;22-23
When I pray with our children, I praise God for the gifts He has given them. I thank Him for the strong men and women of God they are becoming and for the awesome plans He has for their lives. I ask God to help us to guide the children in the direction of those plans He has for them. I thank Him for the incredible privilege I’ve been given to be the mother of such incredibly gifted kids.
When I am compelled to tell our children that they can’t do something they really want to do, I remind them how special they are. They are God’s, chosen to do something incredibly important, and created in God’s image. They are called to be Holy, set apart, to hold themselves to a higher standard than the world. I remind them how overwhelmingly proud I am of them.
How do I know these things? Because I know the One who created them.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29;11
And I know that my words will follow them throughout their lives. They will be planted deeply within their minds, and in many ways, they will become the words I have spoken.
May I be worthy.
And where do we express those feelings of disappointment and frustration? To our Heavenly Father who promises to renew us and turn the hurt and loss into something beautiful, if we give it to Him.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. ~Heb 4;16
May we express ourselves to the One who can heal our hurts and renew our spirits. May our words reflect the One who dwells within us, and may they be a blessing to the ones we love.
Blessings ALL!
