What are you saying?
Do you ever get the feeling God is trying to tell you something? Perhaps you only really get it when He uses several different sources to say the same thing? I guess when He does speak this way, then you really need to take notice, and respond appropriately.
My grandson’s ‘naughty’ words
My grandson is almost 5, and being at school every day he has picked up some unwelcome habits. One of these is to take great pleasure in using ‘naughty’ words. Now I am not talking expletives here, more ‘toilet humour’ – a fascination with certain body parts and functions. Funny more than shocking, to him particularly. And generally used for effect – most noticeably to get our attention, or wind us up.
Sitting at the dinner table last week he suddenly started saying such words, on repeat. I admonished him gently, as did his grandfather – we know his parents are trying to discourage the behaviour. He persisted – so I went into bargaining mode. If he wanted an icecream after he had eaten his pasta, he needed to stop using words that weren’t nice. He reacted to that by placing his hands over his mouth, his eyes grinning.
‘It’s hard not to say it,’ he said, through his fingers
‘Why not try saying something nice instead? I replied. ‘Like ‘thank you for my dinner, Nana’, or ‘I love you Nana’’?
He proceeded to say both, really sweetly and genuinely. It was a precious moment – especially when he continued to tell his grandad that he loved him too, and his sister – a bit more reluctantly. Hearing those words from his lips was just lovely.
Be careful what you say
A few days before this, we were visited by some dear friends, both of whom hear God and love to share what He is saying. Whilst praying with us before they left, one of them looked at me pointedly and said, ‘I think that God is telling you to be careful what you say over yourself.’
I pondered on this. I do have a tendency to speak negatively about myself, especially because I live with a long-term debilitating health condition. It is all too easy to label myself; ‘I am always tired’. Or to complain about my limitations; ‘I hate that I can’t…’ Unfortunately, I do also have a tendency to talk about my circumstances in a negative way, or even about other people who have made my life difficult.
I knew God had a point. I resolved to do better.
God takes what we say seriously
And then today I read from Matthew’s gospel, chapter 12 v 33 -37. Jesus’ words struck me again – what we say is really important – what we let come out of our mouths comes from the overflow of what is in our hearts. That is a sobering thought.
‘For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ v 34
‘A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things’ v35
Jesus also warns about idle, careless, fruitless words in these verses. He takes what we say very seriously.
What we say reflects what is in our heart. So, when I label myself, complain or moan – is that how I really feel? Does that reflect a lack of faith in God’s ability to heal and help me, to provide for me, to give good things? Is that the position of my heart or am I just not thinking about what I am saying in the moment? Worth thinking about.
What we say has power
‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue’ Prov 18:21 tells us.
I know that our words have power.
God’s word spoke creation into being. His Living Word (Jesus) brought salvation into the world. With a word Jesus could still a storm, heal, bring the dead back to life. We are made in His image, and temples of His Spirit, and what we say can change things – for good or bad.
What am I saying?
God repeating His message to me has reminded me that what I say can affect things. It can affect my own faith, it can affect the faith of others, it can even invite the enemy in.
‘Why not say something nice?’
What a difference it would make if I chose to always speak life over myself and my circumstances. Or speak encouragement, truth, love into the lives of others.
Perhaps there are times when I just need to stop speaking, put my hands over my mouth, and whisper through my fingers, ‘It is hard, God.’
I think He knows.
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3
Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here
