Speak Life

Reflecting on a song by Toby Mac, Speak Life, click HERE for video.

…Though it’s crazy, amazing, We can turn a heart through the words we say. Mountains crumble with every syllable. Hope can live or die. So speak life, speak life. To the deadest darkest night…

Last time, I wrote in my blog about the heart, how we must get in sync with God’s heart and follow His guidance, His will for our lives. 

God’s will is to conform you to the image of His Son, Jesus the Anointed One (Romans 8:29.) This is a process He begins when you are born again and may take a long time to finish. He changes you from the inside out.

In this blog I will reflect on what the Holy Bible says about the tongue and the words we speak.

Many times I have found myself getting involved in conversations or arguments that are silly and the only outcome is negative. Often we tear others apart with what we say. Last time this happened to me, a voice inside me told me to be quiet and do not get involved. So I did, and walked away. I was not asked for an opinion, so I did not offer one. I reflected on what the Apostle Paul told Timothy:

“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.”
2 Timothy 2:23

Maybe we should ask some basic questions when we engage others in a conversation. I do not know who quoted this but it fits the story.

Is what been said TRUE?
Is what been said, POSITIVE?
Is what been said building up or tearing someone down?

Apart from the help of the Holy Spirit in our life, when we speak we make a mess of things. James wrote about our condition when it comes to the tongue

“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
James 3:3-9

When we decide to speak on our own, we speak from the heart, which is desperately wicked, no one knows it. Jesus in Matthew was explaining to the Pharisees when they confronted him about the disciples not washing the hands when they eat. Jesus said that what comes into the mouth does not defile you, only what comes out of your mouth.

“The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”
Matthew 15:18

So what can we do to ensure we do not sin when we speak? 

We must trust the Holy Spirit to place the write words in our hearts so that they will positively come out of the mouth for blessing, not cursing. You may ask yourself, what will Jesus say in this situation? Jesus always relied in His Father to speak to us.

“I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.”
John 12:49

Father,
Change my heart daily so that what comes out of my mouth is the truth, it is positive, and it is used to build others up. I invite the Holy Spirit to guard my tongue when the evil one wants me to be engaged in negative talk that only destroys and bring others down. Teach me to Speak Life so I can bring glory to your name.

In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen

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By Him, For Him!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14