4:288 – Words for Comfort or Destruction

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Setting

Poets can make you feel a range of emotions. Actors bring to life a person by their words and actions. When we speak are we using our words for comfort or destruction. I try to bring comfort with my words but have found they sting just as often. I find that I plan to use words for comfort but the words that sting come out without planning. It’s the, “think before you speak” thing that I have trouble with sometimes. I’m glad that I can be forgiven.

Today’s Questions: What do you do when your words don’t bring comfort? How can you think before you speak?

Scripture

• James 1:19 – Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
• Proverbs 29:20 –  There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
• Ephesians 4:29 – Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Reflection

When we were growing up, most of us heard a family member say, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.” We often are our own worst enemies when we rush to speak rather than think. As we taught our girl scouts, you may say something wrong and be forgiven but you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. Forgiveness is key and we also need to see what we can do so we don’t need forgiveness in the first place. Let’s be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Prayer

Father God, you gave us the gift of speech. Let us use it to bring comfort and help with growth. When we don’t bring comfort, help us to ask forgiveness and find ways to make it right. We pray all this in your name, Amen.