Prayer To Speak Well And Always Honour With Our Words
Moments of anger, disappointment, and frustration are filled with temptation to speak dishonourably. People act unfairly or carelessly in ways that harm others. It is so easy to think and speak in ways that dishonour and curse a person in reaction to what they have said or done. This is not God’s way of speaking when dealing with problems. This is a day to take stock and let God sort out what's in our hearts and coming out of our mouths.
But there are so many other issues with what comes out of our mouths - or off our fingers as we tap keyboards or our phones. Angry words, gossiping, complaining, bullying, shaming, are too easily out of our mouths before we know it. God's word tells us that it is out of the abundance of what is in our hearts that our mouths speak so we probably could do with an inventory before God of what is in our hearts that is flowing out our mouths and off our fingers.
Loving God we want to live in honour, honouring You as our Loving Creator and Saviour and honouring others who are those You have created in your image. We haven't always done that.
Forgive us for the many times we’ve dishonoured you by taking your name in vain. We’ve said degrading things and made fun of things you count holy. Too many times angry words or cursing comes off our lips in moments of stress and worry. Just because the media has a whole new low bar for words and phrases it will now allow on newscasts, talk shows, and early evening comedy shows, doesn't mean that filth is any less dirty. Forgive us God for how we allow these words and phrases to become a part of our own speaking and thinking. Clean us up. Refresh our minds and mouths.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according
to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 NLT
We can't hardly hear a newscast or read reports on social media without bumping into all sorts of conspiracy theories. People accuse others of lying and misleading others when they don't have the facts themselves and don't know if what they are saying is true or not. God, we need Your help so we can confine our thinking to what is uplifting and good even during challenging times and always speak well. That includes how we speak about those who spew out these angry condemning tirades. Help us to not get caught up in reactions that are equally angry and judgmental. Help us even to limit our exposure to negative unholy content on social media and television. We rationalize so much that is unholy for the sake of some distraction from our boredom.
We ask Your forgiveness for the times we have dishonoured others by finding them and even gossiping about them. Help us to recognize our error in judging others and then doubling the problem by speaking of it negatively to others. Only You, Lord are the all-wise, righteous, and merciful judge. We are grateful that You showed us compassion and mercy when our own character defects were revealed. Help us to be patient and merciful towards others when we see character defects in them. We praise You Lord that You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Change our heart, Lord and help us be to be like You.
We’ve been prone to complaining more than to giving thanks during these strange days of social isolation. Forgive us. Help us to see our world with Your eyes and to condition ourselves to giving thanks in all things.
We’ve not been people who kept our word and we’ve cursed others with our thoughts and our words. Forgive us. Cleanse us. Clean our hearts, our minds, and our mouths. We want to be people who bless and encourage, who speak the truth with love. Help us to be gracious as You’ve been gracious to us. Help us to always honour you and honour others in our speaking.
It’s a tough challenge but we believe You are able to do in us even more than we can ask or imagine. We surrender our thinking and our speaking to You. Use us for Your glory. Amen
When I taught young children in elementary school we learned that for every 1 negative comment to a child it took 12 positive words to balance things out in their hearts. We used to call them “warm fuzzies” and “cold prickilies.” Maybe it would be a good exercise for us to find a way to compliment or thank someone 12 times if we tear them down with our words; maybe offer 12 prayers on their behalf for every time we’ve been judgmental. Something to think about. Let’s have a blessed and positive day.
But there are so many other issues with what comes out of our mouths - or off our fingers as we tap keyboards or our phones. Angry words, gossiping, complaining, bullying, shaming, are too easily out of our mouths before we know it. God's word tells us that it is out of the abundance of what is in our hearts that our mouths speak so we probably could do with an inventory before God of what is in our hearts that is flowing out our mouths and off our fingers.
For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.
Matthew 12:34
Loving God we want to live in honour, honouring You as our Loving Creator and Saviour and honouring others who are those You have created in your image. We haven't always done that.
Forgive us for the many times we’ve dishonoured you by taking your name in vain. We’ve said degrading things and made fun of things you count holy. Too many times angry words or cursing comes off our lips in moments of stress and worry. Just because the media has a whole new low bar for words and phrases it will now allow on newscasts, talk shows, and early evening comedy shows, doesn't mean that filth is any less dirty. Forgive us God for how we allow these words and phrases to become a part of our own speaking and thinking. Clean us up. Refresh our minds and mouths.
And so blessing and cursing
come pouring out of the same mouth.
Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
(James 3:10 NLT)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according
to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 NLT
We can't hardly hear a newscast or read reports on social media without bumping into all sorts of conspiracy theories. People accuse others of lying and misleading others when they don't have the facts themselves and don't know if what they are saying is true or not. God, we need Your help so we can confine our thinking to what is uplifting and good even during challenging times and always speak well. That includes how we speak about those who spew out these angry condemning tirades. Help us to not get caught up in reactions that are equally angry and judgmental. Help us even to limit our exposure to negative unholy content on social media and television. We rationalize so much that is unholy for the sake of some distraction from our boredom.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable,
and right, and pure, and lovely,
and admirable. Think about things that are
excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8
We ask Your forgiveness for the times we have dishonoured others by finding them and even gossiping about them. Help us to recognize our error in judging others and then doubling the problem by speaking of it negatively to others. Only You, Lord are the all-wise, righteous, and merciful judge. We are grateful that You showed us compassion and mercy when our own character defects were revealed. Help us to be patient and merciful towards others when we see character defects in them. We praise You Lord that You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Change our heart, Lord and help us be to be like You.
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
gossip separates the best of friends.
Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.
Proverbs 16:28, 17:5 NLT
The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
Psalm 145:8
We’ve been prone to complaining more than to giving thanks during these strange days of social isolation. Forgive us. Help us to see our world with Your eyes and to condition ourselves to giving thanks in all things.
Be thankful in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
We’ve not been people who kept our word and we’ve cursed others with our thoughts and our words. Forgive us. Cleanse us. Clean our hearts, our minds, and our mouths. We want to be people who bless and encourage, who speak the truth with love. Help us to be gracious as You’ve been gracious to us. Help us to always honour you and honour others in our speaking.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10
It’s a tough challenge but we believe You are able to do in us even more than we can ask or imagine. We surrender our thinking and our speaking to You. Use us for Your glory. Amen
When I taught young children in elementary school we learned that for every 1 negative comment to a child it took 12 positive words to balance things out in their hearts. We used to call them “warm fuzzies” and “cold prickilies.” Maybe it would be a good exercise for us to find a way to compliment or thank someone 12 times if we tear them down with our words; maybe offer 12 prayers on their behalf for every time we’ve been judgmental. Something to think about. Let’s have a blessed and positive day.
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