My heart is broken today. Broken for the sin in my life, the sin in other people's lives & the church at large. Broken for the hurt this particular sin causes and the apathetic way in which we address it. I'm talking about the careless way we use our words.
A young friend asked me to be her accountability partner as she does a project on Biblical femininity & submission. My friend is 17. I'm so excited to see what she discovers and learns throughout the process. I decided that I should do some research myself in order to encourage her but I was disappointed to find that there really isn't much out there.
So in the last few days I've thinking about what it means to be feminine and what a lady "looks" like. I believe one of the greatest compliments I could ever hope to receive would be that I am the "epitome of a Godly lady." And if I were to write a book on the subject of Biblical femininity then I would look at thecharacteristics that make up a Godly lady and go from there.
Of course, it would be a given that in order to be a Godly lady one would have to have a genuine and fruit-bearing relationship with Jesus Christ. Living under submission to His Lordship in her life. And I am convinced that one of the fruits from that relationship that would also serve as a point of recognition that before you stands a Godly lady is the fact that she is well spoken.
"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26 (NIV)
Now in our culture of social media, sarcasm and the ability to "share whatever is on your mind at any given moment" the thought of being well spoken is that you are able to cut someone down to size in such a way that they don't know if they should laugh or be offended. That my friends is not what I am talking about. My understanding is that someone who is well spoken is gracious, truthful, humble and thoughtful in their tone and with the words they choose to speak. The tone is never demeaning or arrogant but rather spoken with kindness and confidence. And please note that confidence and arrogance can be two completely different things.
I've come to really appreciate this through the job I have at a local family medical practice. I deal with patient care. The words and the tone in which my coworkers and I use to speak to our patients can either leave them feeling welcomed and at ease or offended and uncared for. So I have come to focus more so on what I say and how I say it. I hold the power to bless or curse someone at all times. I so desire to be a blessing. I know what it is to curse and be cursed. I want the words I speak to others to bring life, to provide a balm and offer hope not discourage and further wound them. But I not only have to watch what I say through spoken word but also through the written words.
What am I saying in my texts, my tweets and my statuses/quotes/pictures on Facebook? "When words are many, sin is not absent (hello, social media?!), but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment." Proverbs 10:19-21 Do my words bear evidence to the fruit in my life or are they merely floating about like a toxic fog polluting the lives of those who read them? Do they point to Christ or do they drive people away from Christ? This is something that I have had to work on in my life many times and will have to continue to work because I so love a good one liner! "You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue!" Psalms 52:4 But as a Christian I am called to a higher standard and if I am going to stand before the Lord one day then I need to hold myself accountable today.
My friends I am calling us (myself, really) to truly think about what we say and in the manner in which we say it. I am asking that we please think before we text, tweet or post a status, quote or picture. We do not know what others are going through, have been through or are getting ready to face. Please, oh please, can we seek to be a source of encouragement for those who are hurting - those who are both lost and found - instead of causing more wounds?
"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:4
"He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity." Proverbs 21:23
My heart is broken today. Broken for the sin in my life, the sin in other people's lives & the church at large. Broken for the hurt this particular sin causes and the apathetic way in which we address it. I'm talking about the careless way we use our words.
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord , my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalms 19:14 And be a blessing to others as well. Lord, please allow me to be recognized as a well spoken Godly lady. Please continue to cultivate that quality in me and prick my heart with conviction when I fail in this area.
I love you all!
- Melody Faith
A young friend asked me to be her accountability partner as she does a project on Biblical femininity & submission. My friend is 17. I'm so excited to see what she discovers and learns throughout the process. I decided that I should do some research myself in order to encourage her but I was disappointed to find that there really isn't much out there.
So in the last few days I've thinking about what it means to be feminine and what a lady "looks" like. I believe one of the greatest compliments I could ever hope to receive would be that I am the "epitome of a Godly lady." And if I were to write a book on the subject of Biblical femininity then I would look at thecharacteristics that make up a Godly lady and go from there.
Of course, it would be a given that in order to be a Godly lady one would have to have a genuine and fruit-bearing relationship with Jesus Christ. Living under submission to His Lordship in her life. And I am convinced that one of the fruits from that relationship that would also serve as a point of recognition that before you stands a Godly lady is the fact that she is well spoken.
"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Proverbs 31:26 (NIV)
Now in our culture of social media, sarcasm and the ability to "share whatever is on your mind at any given moment" the thought of being well spoken is that you are able to cut someone down to size in such a way that they don't know if they should laugh or be offended. That my friends is not what I am talking about. My understanding is that someone who is well spoken is gracious, truthful, humble and thoughtful in their tone and with the words they choose to speak. The tone is never demeaning or arrogant but rather spoken with kindness and confidence. And please note that confidence and arrogance can be two completely different things.
I've come to really appreciate this through the job I have at a local family medical practice. I deal with patient care. The words and the tone in which my coworkers and I use to speak to our patients can either leave them feeling welcomed and at ease or offended and uncared for. So I have come to focus more so on what I say and how I say it. I hold the power to bless or curse someone at all times. I so desire to be a blessing. I know what it is to curse and be cursed. I want the words I speak to others to bring life, to provide a balm and offer hope not discourage and further wound them. But I not only have to watch what I say through spoken word but also through the written words.
What am I saying in my texts, my tweets and my statuses/quotes/pictures on Facebook? "When words are many, sin is not absent (hello, social media?!), but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment." Proverbs 10:19-21 Do my words bear evidence to the fruit in my life or are they merely floating about like a toxic fog polluting the lives of those who read them? Do they point to Christ or do they drive people away from Christ? This is something that I have had to work on in my life many times and will have to continue to work because I so love a good one liner! "You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue!" Psalms 52:4 But as a Christian I am called to a higher standard and if I am going to stand before the Lord one day then I need to hold myself accountable today.
My friends I am calling us (myself, really) to truly think about what we say and in the manner in which we say it. I am asking that we please think before we text, tweet or post a status, quote or picture. We do not know what others are going through, have been through or are getting ready to face. Please, oh please, can we seek to be a source of encouragement for those who are hurting - those who are both lost and found - instead of causing more wounds?
"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:4
"He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity." Proverbs 21:23
My heart is broken today. Broken for the sin in my life, the sin in other people's lives & the church at large. Broken for the hurt this particular sin causes and the apathetic way in which we address it. I'm talking about the careless way we use our words.
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord , my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalms 19:14 And be a blessing to others as well. Lord, please allow me to be recognized as a well spoken Godly lady. Please continue to cultivate that quality in me and prick my heart with conviction when I fail in this area.
I love you all!
- Melody Faith
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