My current bible study is focused on being a Proverbs 31 woman. Using biblical truth, scripture, and examples of this God honoring woman all in the good works of the Lord. She is clothed with dignity. She puts her skills in place to provide for her family. She is loved and most important she loves God.
I am challenged daily but I am not discouraged. I have God by my side to carry me, strengthen me, and mold me into the Proverbs 31 woman he needs me to be. Will this make me the perfect mom and wife? Absolutely not. I am a sinner. I am forgiven. I am also chosen by God for my family.
Just as we are chosen by God for our family, we can choose to be a blessing to our family or tear down the very walls of love, encouragement, and confidence with unfit words. There are many ways we can do this by being disobedient to God, but one that really pierces my heart are the very words spoken from our tongues.
I didn’t grow up in a church home with structure and honestly not very many kind and gentle words were spoken. I remember when I was younger I would say I would never say that to my child, I would never yell at my children, I wouldn’t speak to my husband like that.
A couple of years ago ashamed my bitter reality, I was doing these things to my children. Intentional or unintentional, I was taught a very valuable lesson that your words will hurt, tear down, and sometimes never be mended in this Earthly world.
Our God covers us with grace. A sweet grace that is undeserving yet indescribable. God covered me with his grace. He showed me pieces of my heart that were still hurting from my childhood that I needed to let go and give to him. I remember the soft-spoken words that he whispered to my soul.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. ~Psalm 19:14
My bitter and angered heart was speaking through my words to my family. I was heartbroken when I realized this was happening in the very walls God had blessed me with to carefully care for.
God forgave me. My husband forgave me. I forgave myself.
My children were too young at the time to remember but as they get older God speaks to my heart every day reminding me what he gave me and what my family needs from me. I transformed you and you are still teachable but do not be discouraged or hard on yourself when you fail. You are not perfect but as you grow wiser in my word you will gain self-control and be able to react with kind and gentle words just as I do for you.
Let my word be your vessel not your past.
Don’t rest there my friend. You may not yell or speak unkind words from a broken heart, bad habits, or just seeing through the eyes of the world. But those sarcastic words, the dirty jokes, even the caddy comments that may arise when you are around others and want to fit in. These are all words spoken unfit for a King.
Even if your children do not hear you, our God does. He desires more of you. He desires you to be like Jesus to build each other up. Our words will quickly build someone up or quickly destroy them.
As I write this for myself, I pray that you will search you heart and see the ways our words that roll from our tongue are not pleasing to God. How they hurt others. Pray that God will reveal to you the areas that need strengthened and a part of your heart mended. So our words are overflowing with goodness and represent our love for Jesus.
Our words can change someone’s entire day. Let’s change it for better with genuine and kind words.
God is still working on me and I pray that my words will encourage others. I am thankful I can open my bible daily and study his word, deepen my relationship, and my little hearts desire to be full sweet words to overflow into every moment I encounter.
Proverbs 10:11 “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”
Proverbs 12:18 ” The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Praying for your walk with the Lord today and your kind words be sweet as honey.
Are your words reckless and piercing like swords or wise that bring healing and fountains of life?
Love,
Whoever said “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” had no idea of the power of words!! I love what you shared! So very true!! I have a hard time letting go sometimes, myself, when someone has said hurtful things. So as a teacher, I find I sympathize with those students who retaliate against someone who said something hurtful to them. It’s like I am secretly happy that someone had the nerve to stick up for themselves. As I ramble I realize that I should look to God as my source for peace in any situation. If I give it over to Him, He can and will help me…remind me of my self-worth…allowing my confidence to overflow into my daily relationships. Be blessed!
Thank you Stephanie for sharing your heart on my post. To God be the Glory in our everyday relationships, encounters, reactions, thoughts, and respresent him boldy. Blessings to you too!