I Offer Up My Words

If only we stopped to think about the power of words more often. This week's Bible study focuses on surrendering our words (and thoughts) to God as a form of worship. I'm going to write out my favorite points within the chapter...the ones that spoke loudest to me.

• When we bless God and others with our words they are a sweet fragrance of worship to the Father
• Proverbs 12:18 "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing"
• All creation worships but only God's special creation can worship with words. We have been given a great privelage - the gift of language. The tragic part is that we use this gift to curse Him and those made in His image. James 3:9-10 "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing....this should not be"
• Ephesians 4:29 "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who hear" The opposite of unwholesome are words that edify and bring encouragement, words that reinforce the heart of the other person. Edifying words give grace, not judgment, they meet the need of the moment.
• The day I realized that my words can cause emotional death was a sobering one. My words can cut open one made in the image of God.
• "A truly wise person uses few words"
• Just as choosing wise words bring Him glory, remaining silent when the words are boiling over to be spoken can also glorify
• Very often I inquire of God "should I say this?" and His message to me is "I will fight for you while you keep silent" Exodus 14:14
• I often want emotional relief so I plunge in and speak quickly - and I get in God's way.
• Do my words give courage to a person so that they will try something a second time? Or do my words discourage them, cut them down, and diminish their joy.
• Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?
• God has given me the glorious gift of words and every day I have a choice to use them to bring blessing or cursing, encouragement or discouragement.
• When I pour words of encouragement into my family, friends, coworkers, I bless them. This too is worship to my great God.

 I know that bowing my words will be a lifelong journey.