Saturday, August 2, 2014

Words

We never know how our words affect other people.  Words can heal or harm.  They can encourage or discourage.  They can bless or curse.

Sometimes it is not the words but the way we say them that makes the difference.  Often our underlying attitude comes through in how we speak.  We can speak softly or harshly the same words with much different results.

Colossians 4:6  says, Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

The Greeks used the word salt as an emblem of wit. So this could mean our words should be used to make what we say pleasing and useful.  Also salt is used in meat to preserve it and keep it fit to eat.  And so with our words, they should be encouraging, helpful and most of all kind.  There are times when we must use our words to correct or deal with unpleasant things.  Even then our words should be spoken with grace, in a manner which is accordance with exemplifying a Christ-like spirit.

James 3:10 says, Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Now I don't think this applies only to cursing, but also to words that injure or hurt.

Just today someone replied to an innocent statement with harsh words.  I am trying to learn from these times to remember that Christians will face times when they want to respond in the same manner, but if we are trying to live a Christ-like life, maybe He is allowing this in order that we might grow.  After these words were spoken to me I went to download a sermon I had received on CD and realized the title was "Watch Your Mouth".  I think it was a reminder from the Lord that I was not to be harsh in return.  Then a short time later I heard the song by Greater Vision,

God Wants to Hear You Sing

Their chains were fastened tight
Down at the jail that night
Still Paul and Silas would not be dismayed.
They said, “It’s time to lift our voice
Sing praises to the Lord
Let’s prove that we will trust Him come what may.”

CHORUS      
God wants to hear you sing
When the waves are crashing ‘round you
When the fiery darts surround you
When despair is all you see.
God wants to hear your voice
When the wisest man has spoken
And says, “Your circumstance is as hopeless as can be.”
That’s when God wants to hear you sing.

He loves to hear our praise on our cheerful days
When the pleasant times outweigh the bad, by far
But when suffering comes along
And we still sing Him songs
That is when we bless the Father’s heart.

When we praise God in the bad times it means much more than when things are going right.  So when people do not deal with us kindly we can take Paul and Silas as an example and praise God anyway.

This is my prayer:

Psalm 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. 

This card expressed it well.


God's grace is sufficient for all we need.

Have a victorious week in the Lord.





8 comments:

  1. ah sis this is such a very beautiful card .... love it thank you.. and great words as you say they are only little things, but give a great power to them..may they daily be committed to the LORD!!

    .. have your lovely blue butterfly card sitting in front of me here at 'pooter :D hugs Shaz.xx

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    1. You are such encouragement. I love the cards you make, your comments and the love I feel when I read any of your comments to others in the Christian Cardmakers Group. You are such a witness for the Lord in the things you do. Thank you for being a blessing to me.

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  2. Great meditation Mehrll, very nicely written. Your card is very elegant and pretty!

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    1. High praise from someone who is at the top of her field. Thanks. You are an inspiration to me.

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  3. I love that poem and the beautiful card you created to showcase it!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words. Your blog is a blessing to me.

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  4. Wonderful post! Timely too. I just signed up over at http://ourshelteringtree.blogspot.com/ for a Bible study on the subject. Isn't it neat when God points us to the same subject, yet from different sources?!

    I always love my visits over here with you and your card is so pretty! Hope your week is going well!

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    1. Your comments are so encouraging that I am following where the Lord leads on my blog. I want to write it to bless others and let Him lead me in the content. Thanks for pointing me to http://ourshelteringtree.blogspot.com/. I have subscribed. The entry was so heart touching. Bless you. I love your blogand it encourages me!

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