Examining “These Words of My Mouth”
The other morning, my husband and I read the daily reading from a one-year devotional book we are going through in 2022: God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life by Timothy Keller with Kathy Keller. It is based primarily on the book of Proverbs, which has much to say about the way in which we use words. I was struck particularly with this sentence:
“Words create and sustain prejudices, biases, fears, and anxieties that are virtually impossible to uproot.” (June 24th devotional)
I am a person who loves words and uses them liberally. I am also one who thinks deeply and has an opinion about a lot of things. I confess those characteristics are a potent combination I have used haphazardly or unwisely at times.
One of my most fervent prayers the past few years is that I will use words to promote peace, heal hurting hearts, support searching souls, and most of all, point to the love of God, which Jesus’ words and actions always reflected. As with all growth, there are times I do well and times I don’t. This fact makes me beyond grateful for God’s grace!
As Ron and I read our morning devotional, we agreed an important place to practice is with one another in our own home—sometimes even when we disagree about the content of our morning devotional!
Ahh, so many words to examine. So many lessons to learn. So much grace to be given and received.
May your today and each word you speak be blessed!
