Week 5
We have all heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt
me.” We also know nothing could be further from the true. In fact, there are times that bones
heal much faster than the wounds that words have left in our lives. Words are powerful. They
have the ability to help build up a person or tear them down. Paul says it this way.
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
How often have we torn someone else down in an attempt to build ourselves up? We may feel
justified in the moment. Perhaps we may have felt better momentarily. Yet, being mean spirited
towards someone reveals more about us than it does about the other person. Jesus says this.
Matthew 12:34-35 (NIV)
34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of
the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him,
and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
The way we talk about others comes out of who we are and our character. Tearing someone
down in front of others shows our poor character. Paul tells us to work at building others up.
Then we will not only build them up but ourselves as well. The word that is translated as
“unwholesome” in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians really means “garbage”. Do not let any garbage
come out of your mouth. Perhaps we could say, “Do not have a garbage mouth!”
I do not think that any of us would characterize ourselves as having a “garbage mouth.” I know I would not say that about myself. But I do catch myself at times talking badly about others. I certainly have had a garbage mouth. When I do, I end up hurting that person, the people who are hearing it, and myself.
The best way to clean up the words coming out of our mouths, is by cleaning up our hearts on the inside. When our heart is full to overflowing with God’s love, that is what is going to come out. Enter the Father’s house and be filled with his love. Go out to build others up as you go, so that all might benefit from your words.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.
I do not think that any of us would characterize ourselves as having a “garbage mouth.” I know I would not say that about myself. But I do catch myself at times talking badly about others. I certainly have had a garbage mouth. When I do, I end up hurting that person, the people who are hearing it, and myself.
The best way to clean up the words coming out of our mouths, is by cleaning up our hearts on the inside. When our heart is full to overflowing with God’s love, that is what is going to come out. Enter the Father’s house and be filled with his love. Go out to build others up as you go, so that all might benefit from your words.
Time of Prayer:
1) 1 min – What is God saying to me through this devotional?
2) 1 min – What am I going to do about it?
3) 1 min – What do I want to say to God?
4) 2 min – Listen for what God wants to say to you now.