My mouth can get me into trouble. Along with my "quick wit", I am also "blessed" with an impulsiveness that can, coupled together, cause an eruption of hurtful words and an explosion of hurt feelings. This Lenten season, I am forgoing the elimination of chocolate or red meat or TV programs, and purposefully and prayerfully eliminating "unwholesome talk" from my vocabulary. Now, you may be tempted to think "unwholesome" means only "vulgar" speech or words that fall into the "swearing like a sailor" category...but God challenges us to get rid of all words that DO NOT LIFT OTHERS UP.
Not just words that are mean or hurtful, but...
DO NOT SPEAK WORDS...UNLESS THEY ARE...
Useful words.
Kind words.
Positive words.
Encouraging words.
Words that BUILD OTHERS UP ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS. This requires a few things.
1. SHUT UP! (& listen!). Don't just listen, anticipating your response, but listen without any other agenda other than to HEAR the person speaking.
2. Listen with the intent of figuring out their needs. Does the person just need a should to cry on? Do they need help coming up with a solution to a problem? Do they need to know someone HEARS them...that they are not invisible?
3. Speak! "Build them up." Affirm them. Remind them of how AWESOME they are. Notice them.
God has really been dealing with me as I have been purposing to live out this verse.
When I have been tempted to point out someone's mistakes, have an "I told you so" attitude, or engage in gossip...God has been reminding me that I "gave up" harsh words during Lent. See? I posted about it here:
[HARSH WORDS]
Behind my sweet smile, lurks sarcasm & a tongue that can cut to the quick. The Holy Spirit tells me to keep mouth closed but I often choose to ignore that because that little comeback is just "too good" not to get in. Power of life & death are in the tongue. I choose to give up words that kill the spirit & bring death; I choose life-giving words.
Of course I do NOT intend to pick harsh words back up again after Easter! "Eliminating" certain things, be it chocolate or unwholesome talk, is the practice of seeking Jesus during this season and becoming more like Him during Lent and forever.
"Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful to build others up according to their needs."
Lord, may my words be life-giving, encouraging, helpful, kind, & uplifting.❤
