Mulling Over My Morning Coffee: Day 11 Shhhhh.....

The average woman speaks nearly 20,000 words a day. That's more than 13,000 additional words than the average man speaks each day. And with the use of social media and the ease of hitting the "SEND" button, there are countless other words exchanged each day. How are we using those words and what do those words say about who we are?

Today's scriptures:

Ephesians 4:29-32
Ephesians 5:4
Colossians 3:5-8
Philippians 4:8-9
James 1:26
Ecclesiastes 10:12-14

Clearly the Lord designed man and woman distinctly different in a myriad of ways, it just so happens that talking may be one of the most obvious differences character trait differences. Sure, we all know men on the chatty side and women on the silent side, but this is talking about the majority of the population, regardless of religious affiliation.

So does this mean that we just need to put tape over our mouth and keep quiet for the rest of our lives? Well, if your words are damaging to those around you then, yeah, maybe. But no, there is something more edifying and God-glorifying. God has shaped us quite uniquely as women, and we have an incredible opportunity to use those 20,000 words a day (or more) to influence and build others up.

When we use our words to tear down, to slander, to promote self, to curse others, it reveals a heart problem.

"For out of the heart the mouth speaks."
Matthew 12:34b

A sinful heart produces sinful words. Sinful words are not attractive, not appealing, and definitely not appetizing for those receiving. We are reminded in James 3 that our tongue is set on fire by hell itself. We can begin by confessing how our words have been anything but God-glorifying and ask Christ to renew the words that are on our lips.

"Guard your heart above all else, for it effects everything you do."
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT, 97)

Christ is the only one who can soften our hearts of stone. Instead of using our speech (and texts and tweets and posts) for temporary worldly gain, we can exchange them for eternal glory. Philippians 4:8-9 says that we can think about everything that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. When we fill our hearts with these things, our speech begins to reshape.

Take a minute to listen to Bethel's "Ever Be."

As a follower of Christ, we are to look like Christ and when our conversations with coworkers, and tweets about politics, and group text messages with friends sound no different than non-believers, we literally waste the blood of Christ that he mercifully poured out for us on the cross. Let the praises of Christ and a God-glorifying, positive message be on your lips at all times. Walk (and talk your 20,000 words) in a manner worthy of your calling as Ephesians 4:1 describes.

Love,