Monday, January 07, 2008

Each word a gift


29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. 30 Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted. Eph. 4:29-30

Ok so 36 hours have passed and as far as I can tell my speech has been uncorrupted. No griping. No complaining. No criticism-nothing negative at all. My goal is that my words would be a gift and that the Holy Spirit who indwells me would not be grieved but pleased with the words that I choose. I have never thought of my words as a gift before. I like that.

So today I am giving the gift of words. I am going to use words that lift people. I am intentionally seeking to help with what I say. I am hoping to make the world a better place with the power of well-chosen words. You can too.

Father, help us to give Joy to the world today. Help us to hold out the word of life to all those who hear. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and speak through us today!

4 comments:

Pastor T said...

great challenge Pastor! i have caught myself several times on the verge of saying something negative. The great thing about it is that i am catching them as thoughts before they become words!

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Michelle W said...

Well, I love this challenge. I have been trying to maintain a harmonious home, however with 3 boys, homeschooling, work, and the recent loss of my mother, harmony has sometimes been out of reach. or so i thought. Well, I decided to have my kids listen to your sermon and take the challenge as well. It's very funny, we're all catching each other. Not really any griping or complaining but the kids have often said to one another over the past 24 hours "was that helpful". Even little Chris is joining the bandwagon. This morning my middle son (who is definitely not a morning person and mornings have always been a great struggle)got up this morning without argument. The first thing we did was pray together and thank God for this day and for his help. He even did his chores before going off to school. School went very well and our words, too were gifts to each other. It's been quite a harmonious day in our household in spite of the challenges that have come along. We're working on it and I look forward to making this a lifelong habit with my family and everyone I come across. Thanks so much! This is a great challenge and we are working on becoming more like Christ!
Father, help us to stay focused and center on you.

Anonymous said...

I agree! we can make the world a better place by what we say! Life and death is in the power of the tounge! We as christians should not say anything that does not edify! I love your 1 week challenge! It sure is hard but the Holy Spirit makes all thing possible and easier!