May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise; then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word. Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws. I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. (Psalm 119:41-48 NIV)
For many of us, very early on in our lives when we attempted to speak and express our thoughts and feelings, we were shut down. We often heard the phrase, "Children are meant to be seen and not heard." The words of children were not solicited, valued or even believed. Children who live in homes where addiction and anger is dominant learn to watch their words very carefully so that they can hide and not come to the attention of the abusive person in the home. At school or other events children also hear unkind words spoken such as, "What a stupid thing to say!" Words like these dull our desire to speak or share any positive input we may have in any situation.
God created us with a voice so we could use it to speak words of truth and blessing. He has words of love and encouragement to speak to us and through us to speak to those who need comfort. He has words of challenge and truth to speak to those who do wrong, even those in places of power over us.
It is God's desire that we seek and find the encouraging words of freedom and truth that He has given us in the scriptures. Let’s allow these words to speak to us, so that we in turn, can generously and joyfully share them with others. Let’s spend time in God's loving presence, reading His word and sharing our heart with Him in childlike conversation. As God speaks to us, wisdom and hope will fill us. As we receive from Him, and are filled up, then we will overflow with His abundance and delight in sharing with others.
Let's find our voice today and speak with God and for God.
©2016 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ www.partnersinhope.ca/resources
Audio for Sunday, April 3, 2016
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.