Through Your Words
Ephesians 4:29-32
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Through Your Words
What is one of the most inspiring things someone has ever said to you?
The statements we make to one another have the ability to ignite courage and hope or to bring us to our knees in agony. What you say and how you say has such great potential to build others up or to tear them down. Should you decide that you want to be a blessing to others around learning to know what to ask and ask is a crucial step forward.
God has a lot to say about his words. He stated that HIS Word “is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) He also mentions that His word “will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
When you speak, are you thinking about the impact a few small words can make to the person you are conversing with?
A few weeks ago I decided to be more intentional about what I say and to see how impactful my words might be in certain settings. One of these places is at the local Kwik Trip where I stop to get coffee a few times each week. I thought about those who are getting up (or are still up) at 6 am when I stop in and what it might be like working there. The question that came to me was:
What would I appreciate hearing if this was my job?
So when I walked in the door of the store, I did my best to make eye contact and smile at the people behind the counter. I also got to know their names and said, “Good morning, _______________(names of people working that I passed by). Thank you for being here!”
When I got to the counter to pay for my coffee I would ask questions like, “_________ (name) how is it going today? So, are you a morning person or a night person? What makes for a great start of your day? What are you most looking forward to today?”
The person behind the counter was at first a little hesitant, but after a few times in the store I could see they were looking forward to these interactions. I will usually end with something like, “thank you for being here today!” or, “I appreciate your welcoming, positive attitude when I stop in.” or, “I hope you have a wonderful day.” Or something else positive that I’ve experienced while being in the store.
Funny thing is, that after a few weeks of doing this these same people started to encourage me and ask me questions. A couple of days ago when it was pretty quiet at the store one person asked me, “how can you be so joyful at this time in the morning?”
I laughed and said, “my joy comes from knowing my life has meaning and purpose and that I’m loved unconditionally. I can’t think of anything better than that.” I paid for my coffee and left the store with a prayer that God would use that simple statement to ignite a spark of interest in what that is all about.
To me, every interaction with someone opens the door for us to engage in a possible life-changing discussion about the God who loves us far beyond our ability to grasp.
May your words today bring life to others along the way.
Grateful to be on this journey with you,
Pastor John
Free BLESS ebook: https://covchurch.org/evangelism/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2017/02/Discover-Your-Mission-Now-by-Dave-Ferguson.pdf