Organizing the Inside – Day 281 Avoid Too Many Words

June 10, 2012 at 6:00 pm · Filed under Encouragement, Faith, Inspiration, Relationship, Simplicity, Wisdom, Women's Ministry and tagged: Christ, Conversations, Holy Spirit, Intercessory Prayer, Words

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.  Proverbs 10:19 (NIV)

Whether listening or speaking, think about it; too many words often leads to trouble. Most people who talk too much eventually end up either talking about themselves or someone else. I don’t think God wants us spending too much time doing either. These are people I honestly try to avoid.  At first I admired their ability to start-up a conversation with anyone about anything. As wisdom grew and I practiced discernment in everyday matters, I began to realize just how much words mean. People who talk too much likely don’t realize how much they’re talking,  and I  suspect because of this they spend a lot less time thinking.

What are we opening our hearts to?
Take time to listen carefully to the people you regularly talk to. Be wise and learn to hear what they are not saying also. Are these conversations usually fruitful or are they sometimes filled with gossip about what someone else did or didn’t do? Often secrets shared are tantalizing and before you know it you are sucked in. You’ll find you’re no longer being used as an instrument of love and encouragement but a pawn in Satan’s evil, divisive attempt to accuse the brethren.

Learn to limit conversations that aren’t beneficial to the advancement of God’s kingdom. I realize this may be a tough challenge. I too, love to chit-chat; we sometimes call it “catching up.” Loving God however is more important and I’m determined to use words that matter. A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Proverbs 17:27 (NIV) The Word tells us we should, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  Intercessory prayer is approached by way of the spirit, not the mind. This often requires little conversation and more prayer. Also be careful to avoid using reasoning like, “I need details so I will know how to pray.” No you don’t!  God knows, and your need to know is quite limited. God’s Word teaches us to pray through the power of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26 (NLT)

Allow your conversations to be led by the Holy Spirit.
This is where the power to do and overcome must be used. Indeed Christ has given us His power to overcome. (read 1 John 5:4) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8 (KJV) No man can tame his own tongue, but surely God can. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20 (KJV) If you’ve been trying to control your tongue on your own, you’re likely not having much success. God has a more excellent way; instead of biting your tongue, yield to the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let God consecrate your ears and mouth.
May your mind, heart, ears and mouth be truly set aside for His divine purpose. When we speak, let us speak forth the oracles of God. When we listen, let us listen to words that will increase our faith in Him. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love… Ephesians 1:4 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

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