Give Grace

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}

God has been pressing on my heart lately about my words. 

Words can be: ugly, disrespectful, harsh, vindictive -- just down right hurtful.

Words can Tear Down

It's amazing how just a few words can affect someone for the rest of their life. How it can affect relationships. How it can affect harmony with one another.

How would God have us speak to one another? How can we give grace to each other? How can we build each other up instead of tear each other down, whether to faces or behind backs?

 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. {Colossians 3:12-17, ESV}

Praying this over my heart and over yours as well today, whoever you may be. May our Heavenly Father give us words of kindness to speak to one another. That through Christ, who lavishes grace on us daily, that we may extend that grace to those around us. May the words of Christ dwell in us, and be on our lips.