Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Oh my words! They get me in trouble more than I’d like. I speak too quickly and without a filter … and the price for that lack of self-control can be steep.
But it isn’t just the words I say, it can also be the way I say them. Stress, exhaustion, and frustration can lead to caustic words and tone which ultimately lead to hurt feelings {often over what is in the end, nothing}.
Learning to speak with grace and tenderness {and even when not to speak at all} is a valuable pursuit for all of us.
My friend Karen Ehman says it this way in her paraphrase of Psalm 15 —
May you speak the truth from a loving heart. May your tongue utter no slander. May you do no wrong to a neighbor and cast no slurs. May you weigh your words carefully and keep your oaths. And may you never be shaken. (Keep. It. Shut., 154)
Lord, it’s easy to forget how our words affect each other. We are often guilty of not taking time to consider not only what we say but also HOW we say it. May our words and thoughts toward one another be pleasing to You, O Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Image source: Magdeleine.com
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