Needs more salt!
"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." (Luke 6:45)
Last night we had a delightful evening meal at church before the service began. Whilst we ate, one of my dear sisters made a comment that cut me to the quick. God used her to bring the heaviest conviction upon my soul about something I'd said literally a year ago. Through the entire meal, study hour, and prayer service, I could not concentrate on anything being said. Honestly I didn't hear a word out of anyone's mouth because the Lord was giving me a good spanking. He was hitting me between the eyes with Scripture. He was teaching me a valuable lesson about my tongue and the damage it can do to others, even if unintentionally.
"But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." (James 3:8)
In reality, the meaning and intention of what I said was not hurtful. In no way was I attempting to slander anyone or say anything hurtful. But, the words I chose were not wise and could have easily been misconstrued, misinterpreted, and could have caused a great deal of pain if repeated. God was teaching me that I must choose my words carefully, taking into consideration how they may affect others and how others may interpret them. God was also showing me wickedness in my heart because the intention of what I said, though it was not to slander, was not to edify either. Really it is not what I say that matters, but what others hear and the condition of my heart when I say the words. Every word I say should be chosen carefully with the glory of God and the edification of those who hear as my goal. My speech should be beyond reproach so that others repeating what I say can only bring additional glory to my Master and edification to my brethren.
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)
The Lord would not let me leave the building last night until I took a few ladies aside and showed them this passage and asked them to forgive me for having failed to choose carefully my words and for having sinned in not having their edification as my goal. The lady whom the Lord used to convict me had no idea all this had been going on inside my head. She was not even directing her comment toward me but look how God works! He is such an awesome God! I praise God for granting me repentance and pray that He will unite my heart with His Spirit who lives in me that He may be glorified by every word which proceeds from my lips. Truly most of my words should not be repeated. In fact, many of them should never have been said. This should not be, sister. If edification and glory were the goal of all my words, I would not be ashamed to shout them all from the rooftop of the church house. I confess that the words that proceed from my mouth many times reflect the wickedness deep within my heart.
Oh God! Only You have the power to unite this wicked heart with the heart of Christ! Only You can shut my mouth tightly when I'm ready to say something evil. Only You can give me the burning desire to edify others and to glorify You with my every word. Oh Lord...please do that! Change me Lord and make my mouth a vessel for grace, mercy, truth, love, gentleness, purity, godliness. Thank you for the freedom found in repentance and for opening my eyes to the sin that so often besets me.
"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." (Colossians 4:5-6)
Truly my speech needs more salt! May the Lord in His sovereignty season my heart so that the words which pour forth from it are salty with grace and so that I know just how He'd have me respond to each person and to the need of each moment.
Last night we had a delightful evening meal at church before the service began. Whilst we ate, one of my dear sisters made a comment that cut me to the quick. God used her to bring the heaviest conviction upon my soul about something I'd said literally a year ago. Through the entire meal, study hour, and prayer service, I could not concentrate on anything being said. Honestly I didn't hear a word out of anyone's mouth because the Lord was giving me a good spanking. He was hitting me between the eyes with Scripture. He was teaching me a valuable lesson about my tongue and the damage it can do to others, even if unintentionally.
"But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." (James 3:8)
In reality, the meaning and intention of what I said was not hurtful. In no way was I attempting to slander anyone or say anything hurtful. But, the words I chose were not wise and could have easily been misconstrued, misinterpreted, and could have caused a great deal of pain if repeated. God was teaching me that I must choose my words carefully, taking into consideration how they may affect others and how others may interpret them. God was also showing me wickedness in my heart because the intention of what I said, though it was not to slander, was not to edify either. Really it is not what I say that matters, but what others hear and the condition of my heart when I say the words. Every word I say should be chosen carefully with the glory of God and the edification of those who hear as my goal. My speech should be beyond reproach so that others repeating what I say can only bring additional glory to my Master and edification to my brethren.
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29)
The Lord would not let me leave the building last night until I took a few ladies aside and showed them this passage and asked them to forgive me for having failed to choose carefully my words and for having sinned in not having their edification as my goal. The lady whom the Lord used to convict me had no idea all this had been going on inside my head. She was not even directing her comment toward me but look how God works! He is such an awesome God! I praise God for granting me repentance and pray that He will unite my heart with His Spirit who lives in me that He may be glorified by every word which proceeds from my lips. Truly most of my words should not be repeated. In fact, many of them should never have been said. This should not be, sister. If edification and glory were the goal of all my words, I would not be ashamed to shout them all from the rooftop of the church house. I confess that the words that proceed from my mouth many times reflect the wickedness deep within my heart.
Oh God! Only You have the power to unite this wicked heart with the heart of Christ! Only You can shut my mouth tightly when I'm ready to say something evil. Only You can give me the burning desire to edify others and to glorify You with my every word. Oh Lord...please do that! Change me Lord and make my mouth a vessel for grace, mercy, truth, love, gentleness, purity, godliness. Thank you for the freedom found in repentance and for opening my eyes to the sin that so often besets me.
"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." (Colossians 4:5-6)
Truly my speech needs more salt! May the Lord in His sovereignty season my heart so that the words which pour forth from it are salty with grace and so that I know just how He'd have me respond to each person and to the need of each moment.
Comments