Watching Every Word
I don’t know what your house is like, but if it’s anything like mine, the hours between 4:00-6:00 move in slow motion. Everyone is tired from school, work, playing, etc. and there are still what seems like a hundred tasks to accomplish. Dinner needs to be made, school things put away, work completed, etc.
And it’s during this hour that everyone seems to regularly lose their mind. The toddler gets hangry, the older boys fight, and my patience wears thin. Before long things like, “Stop doing ___ “ or “If you don’t do _____, I’m going to ____” start coming out of my mouth. And because I’m tired, I give directions that don’t need to be given simply because I’m worn out or annoyed. Or worse, I stop implementing what I say I’m going to do.
Years ago, I remember a seasoned mom encouraging me to not say anything to my children I didn’t mean or plan to enforce. And in principle, that sounds pretty easy. But in reality, if we aren’t intentionally guarding our words, we will recklessly throw them around whether we mean to or not.
But, God doesn’t ever speak carelessly.
Shortly before Joshua died, he charged the leaders of Israel to keep God’s commandments and reminded them of this powerful truth:
“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed” (Joshua 23:14).
“Not one word” the Lord had spoken had failed. In Egypt, the wilderness, and into the Promised Land, God did what He said He was going to do. And He still is at work, fulfilling His promises and staying true to His word today.
If we are to follow His lead, we too need to guard our words and follow through on what we say. Here are three quick reminders on how to do this well.
Don’t be hasty! Instead, be deliberate and thoughtful with your words, listening more than you speak.
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).
Check your heart because what’s inside naturally flows out. We must ask God to cleanse us inwardly if we hope to display His work in our lives outwardly.
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:18).
When you do speak, make sure your words are true and good, honoring God and encouraging those around you.
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).
Late afternoons are still crazy in my house most days, but the Lord has given me the grace and strength to keep a close watch on my words.
What about you? No matter the season of life, the Lord has commanded you to use your words wisely, and has modeled this perfectly, fulfilling every word He speaks. Maybe you need to guard your words today, too!
