The Bible has a lot to say about our relationships, including how we communicate.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21
“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:34-37
If we speak without thinking, we too often display the fruits of thinking without God. Since God is judging our every idle word, we need to give our words careful attention. Join me in praying today for our words.
(all scripture is taken from the NIV unless otherwise noted)
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Psalms 19:14
Lord,
You know how badly we need a bridle for our tongues. You tell us so in the book of James. We live in a culture where jokes and humor are crude and profane and people feel free to say what they want without consequence. You’ve called Your people to a higher standard, and teach us in scripture that what is in our hearts will come out of our mouths. Cleanse us from our sin and help us to see that we have been chosen, and called to a higher standard than the world would teach us where our words are concerned. Let the words that we speak not only be pleasing to You, but be a witness to other about who You are in our lives. Keep us from bad habits and unkind words. May we know the joy of speaking the right words, at the right time. Let everything that we say be acceptable in Your sight.
In Jesus Name