*Speak Life
Speak life means sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for our sins. And reconciling us to God by his grace and through faith. But it also means encouraging one another. Always try to say things positively rather than negatively. ‘Be quiet’ is positive while ‘stop talking’ is negative. Not tearing each other down or looking for negative things to say to one another. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Pro18:21).
3 Disciplines of Speak Life
Prayerfully submit – Psalm 141:3
Pray that God will help you control your tongue and give you the words of life to speak. Not controlling our tongues can lead us into trouble (Pro21:23). Dedicate your heart and tongue to the Lord each day. We will all encounter new conversations every day. Daily submitting and admitting your need for God’s grace and discernment reminds us to be acutely aware of all your words (Ps19:14).
Plan and Practice – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Plan to say encouraging things. Think ahead and don’t just speak in the moment. Intend to say encouraging things to others. I will say three encouraging things today: one to someone I like, one to someone I don’t like, one to someone I don’t know. This set your mind to looking for opportunities to say good things (1Tim4:11-12).
Permit Accountability – Galatians 6:1-5
Permit your friends to keep you accountable and call you out when you’re being mean or saying things that are not encouraging or said in love (Pro27:17). Even more than just giving your friends permission to call you out, communicate to them that you expect them to report you (Gal6:1-5).
*Hear Grace
What you believe about what others say about you is a reflection of your relationship with God. Here is the warning of listening to man instead of God, “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
When we listen to others and believe what they say about our worth or identity versus what God says on those subjects then we are placing them above God.
Who God says we are:
- Chosen, Royal, Holy, Special, Called – 1 Pe 2:9
- Adopted Children of God, Heirs to the Kingdom – Rom 8:16-18
- Sealed by the Holy Spirit – Eph 4:30
- Hearers of the voice of God – John 10:27
- A temple of the Holy Spirit – 1 Cor 6:19-20
- Free men and women – Gal 5:1
- A people with access to all truth, wisdom, and knowledge – Col 2:2-3
- We come boldly into the presence of the Almighty – Heb 4:16
Now does this sound like it is describing a person who would get upset because someone made a backhanded comment about their appearance? Or take offense because they were not included in a conversation. Instead we should choose to hear things in the best possible light. This is the spirit behind what is being talking about in Proverbs 15:1. By taking things maybe not even the way they were meant but in the best possible light we turn away evil. Doing this will bring shame on the transgressor and to God’s glory show us on the high road. There is an incredible amount of freedom in this too. Not having to worry about what someone meant but just taking it in the best terms means not stressing over the relationship and will teach your friends to be direct and not flippant or passive aggressive. But more often than not what you will find is that others did not mean things in the worst manner. Either way it is better to take criticism as constructive and remember you are not your flaws nor are you the sum of your sins you are who God says you are!
More scripture on Speak Life and Hear Grace: 2 Corinthians 4:13, Mark 11:22-24, Matthew 21:22 , Isaiah 55:11 , 2 Corinthians 4:18 ,Matthew 12:34-36 ,Romans 4:17, Romans 10:17 , Joshua 1:8, Hebrews 11:1-10
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