Friday September 29, 2023

Today is Friday, September 29 and this week we are exploring what the Bible says about the power of words.

As I observe these first fifteen minutes of my day in prayer with God, I pause and become still. I breathe deeply and slowly. I refocus my busy mind and seek to experience God’s presence.

Pause and Pray

God, I praise you, you are holy, you are mighty, you are Lord of all. Enable me to open my mind and hear the message you have for me today. Speak a word of life into my heart through the power of your Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I cry out to the Lord my God with the ancient words of Psalm 64.

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear. Psalm 64:1-4

Pause and Pray

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul gives sound advice on how to live a life without regrets and how not to waste God-ordained moments. Everyday God presents us opportunities to love, opportunities to learn, opportunities to share, opportunities to give, opportunities to help, and opportunities to change the world. One of our greatest opportunities every day is how we interact with other people, especially those who are considered to be “outsiders” in the faith. The way we respond to outsiders who taunt us with cruel words as the psalmist (David) describes, can be especially powerful. Paul speaks the following words to the Colossians.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:2-6

Today I reflect on the power of words from two distinct perspectives. First, how the words of other people cause me harm. Second, how I use my words to respond to hurtful people. As David complains about his enemies in Psalm 64, I also have known people who “sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.” We live in a world full of unkindness, intolerance, insensitivity, hatred, cruelty, name-calling and bullying. The words of other people can cause me harm. My response can be defensive and vengeful or full of grace and love. Paul writes to the people of Colossae who were harassed for their Christian practices, deceived by false teachers and struggling with internal division. He encourages them to make every opportunity to respond with grace.

Ask: When has someone spoken a word that has hurt my feelings or caused me harm? How might I use the power of words to respond to such people?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, I devote myself to you in prayer with thanksgiving. I watch for opportunities to share your message and proclaim your truth. Like Paul, I pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Lord, I encounter many people who live outside the faith. Give me wisdom in how to act toward outsiders and make the most of every opportunity. I pray that my conversation will be full of grace and others will get a glimpse of your love and goodness through my words. I read the words from Colossians again and seek the message you have for me today.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:2-6

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

What is God revealing to me about the words I speak, write, text or post? I consider the comments I make on social media and my responses to conversations. Do my words reflect the love of Jesus Christ? Am I living a life that proclaims the Gospel? Will people see Jesus when they encounter me in person and online? I consider how I have responded to unkind comments, taunts, disagreeable posts, angry words, or hostile reactions. Have the words of others stirred up my anger and caused me to lose my temper? Or has my conversation been “full of grace, seasoned with salt”?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, I invite you into my relationships and the encounters of my daily life. Help me be a witness to Jesus in every aspect of my life. Teach me to use the power of words for good in this world so that I might respond to hate with love, to anger with peace, to animosity with grace, and to darkness with light. I pray that outsiders will see in me the love of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say. Luke 12:11-12

I leave this time of prayer renewed by the word of God. May all of today’s conversations be full of grace and seasoned with salt.

Amen