I've mentioned before that I live in a small town. Word gets around so much so that if a teen is misbehaving, you best believe his mama is standing in the driveway waiting for him when he gets home. Sometimes, though, the stories get jumbled and exploited; the information tangled. It's kind of like that game "Telephone" we played as kids. The game starts with someone telling the next person in line something in their ear. By the end of the line, the story is not the same as the beginning.
Source. I have learned the hard way to vet my source. I must filter the information that is shared with me. I have learned that if someone is willing to talk to me about another person, I better believe they are talking about me behind my back. I can't rest in a place of fretting over what is being said about me. I can, however, protect myself and my family by creating healthy boundaries with those who like to talk.
I have also learned that there are people out there who have general concern about the person's story they are sharing. Many times, I go to my husband or a trusted friend to process things out with the intention of gathering advice on how to handle a situation. Always vet your source.
God talks a lot about this in the Word. The tongue is powerful. The tongue, as a muscle, is a powerful thing. Think about it: the tongue helps with so many things (eating, talking, swallowing), yet it never gets tired or sore. The tongue is also one of the most powerful sources for how we make others feel. We can cut someone up with our tongue (our words) tearing them down completely. We can also build someone up with our words in a way that helps them get through life that day. Our words are powerful.
"Death and life in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Proverbs 18:21
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29
"And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." James 3:36
I gave you the King James Version. Rolls off the tongue a little differently, doesn't it. Whew. That's hard core and there are MANY more verses like this in the Bible. Our words are powerful. They can pierce and cause distress but they can also create life. And you better believe we will all be held accountable for our words one day.
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalms 19:14
I want the words of my heart to be acceptable to my Savior because I know if they are acceptable to Him, then they are breathing life into those around me. I also want to be okay with telling someone that I cannot participate in a conversation that is not uplifting another. I want to be alright with telling someone, "No, this is not okay to talk about" without being worried about their reaction and what they will think of me. Finally, I want to remember the source when someones shares information that has been said about me behind my back.
May our words breath life. May the power of our tongue increase the multitudes of His Kingdom not tear it down. May the words of my mouth spread kindness like confetti. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Source. I have learned the hard way to vet my source. I must filter the information that is shared with me. I have learned that if someone is willing to talk to me about another person, I better believe they are talking about me behind my back. I can't rest in a place of fretting over what is being said about me. I can, however, protect myself and my family by creating healthy boundaries with those who like to talk.
I have also learned that there are people out there who have general concern about the person's story they are sharing. Many times, I go to my husband or a trusted friend to process things out with the intention of gathering advice on how to handle a situation. Always vet your source.
God talks a lot about this in the Word. The tongue is powerful. The tongue, as a muscle, is a powerful thing. Think about it: the tongue helps with so many things (eating, talking, swallowing), yet it never gets tired or sore. The tongue is also one of the most powerful sources for how we make others feel. We can cut someone up with our tongue (our words) tearing them down completely. We can also build someone up with our words in a way that helps them get through life that day. Our words are powerful.
"Death and life in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Proverbs 18:21
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29
"And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." James 3:36
I gave you the King James Version. Rolls off the tongue a little differently, doesn't it. Whew. That's hard core and there are MANY more verses like this in the Bible. Our words are powerful. They can pierce and cause distress but they can also create life. And you better believe we will all be held accountable for our words one day.
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalms 19:14
I want the words of my heart to be acceptable to my Savior because I know if they are acceptable to Him, then they are breathing life into those around me. I also want to be okay with telling someone that I cannot participate in a conversation that is not uplifting another. I want to be alright with telling someone, "No, this is not okay to talk about" without being worried about their reaction and what they will think of me. Finally, I want to remember the source when someones shares information that has been said about me behind my back.
May our words breath life. May the power of our tongue increase the multitudes of His Kingdom not tear it down. May the words of my mouth spread kindness like confetti. In Jesus Name, Amen!
Love & Blessings,
Meg
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