Words matter. We are living in the information age, and there is no shortage of words. We are overwhelmed with them in fact. With all of these words coming at us from different directions, it would be easy to forget that words have value. They mean something.God values words in that He has revealed Himself through the written Word of the Bible and the Living Word, Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 17:27-28 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
I have always been a quiet person, which is rather ironic since my calling from God is to preach. I am perfectly content to not speak. Yet I have been particularly convicted lately of how significant words are and our use of them.
God is teaching me to:
*Listen to hear and understand what others are trying to communicate, rather than listening in order to formulate my response.
*Refrain from speaking unless I have something valuable to contribute.
*Speak with conviction and clarity, but also with compassion under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
*Purposefully speak encouragement to others.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
