"What did you just say?” Have you ever caught yourself asking someone this question? It usually occurs after a misspoken word or remark, or a sarcastic comment in response to frustration with an individual. What did you feel when you asked someone that question? Our human emotions can range from offense of what we perceived was said to disbelief that such a comment was made. No matter what the outcome produced of the initial comment, either the speaker wasn’t cognitively pursuing an intelligent conversation, or they were being mean-spirited.
King Solomon tells us that, “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11). In other “words”, a well-chosen word is not only honorable, but extremely beautiful, precious, and valuable. In the first and third chapters of James we learn that one who doesn’t keep a tight rein on their tongue not only destroys and invalidates their testimony, they also will destroy themselves for all eternity. So, we now know the power of the spoken word. We can lift someone up with well-chosen speech or we can crush them under the heel of our verbal decay. It comes down to what we value more.
While in this same thought process, let’s look at how we talk with God. Do we come to Him looking for a handout, or do we come to Him bringing praise and adoration to His throne room? Do we pay attention to the words we speak during our time in prayer to Him or do we mumble our way through a prayer that we have said exactly the same for fifteen years? Do we make “deals” with God knowing that we will never keep our end of the bargain? Remember, you are conversing with the God that created all things (even the things we don’t even know about yet). Choose your words correctly. For a correctly spoken word is indicative of the state of your heart and mind. You really don’t want to hear God ask you, “What did you just pray?”
King Solomon tells us that, “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11). In other “words”, a well-chosen word is not only honorable, but extremely beautiful, precious, and valuable. In the first and third chapters of James we learn that one who doesn’t keep a tight rein on their tongue not only destroys and invalidates their testimony, they also will destroy themselves for all eternity. So, we now know the power of the spoken word. We can lift someone up with well-chosen speech or we can crush them under the heel of our verbal decay. It comes down to what we value more.
While in this same thought process, let’s look at how we talk with God. Do we come to Him looking for a handout, or do we come to Him bringing praise and adoration to His throne room? Do we pay attention to the words we speak during our time in prayer to Him or do we mumble our way through a prayer that we have said exactly the same for fifteen years? Do we make “deals” with God knowing that we will never keep our end of the bargain? Remember, you are conversing with the God that created all things (even the things we don’t even know about yet). Choose your words correctly. For a correctly spoken word is indicative of the state of your heart and mind. You really don’t want to hear God ask you, “What did you just pray?”
