“No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29
I fail miserably at this, full transparency. Those of you who know me well have heard me swear. Yes, I’ve been known to cuss. I really do try to work on it, but in my most relaxed settings, I have been known to swear. I try to let everything that comes out of my mouth be uplifting and encouraging, but I’m not perfect. One thing you won’t hear me do is take the Lord’s name in vain. That one my mother instilled in me so strongly, I’m grateful for it. There you have it, that’s my confession. Now what?
It isn’t about who you are now, it’s about who you are becoming. God knows I’m not perfect, He knows you’re not perfect. He doesn’t expect us to be, He just wants us to try and do better. He wants me to try and not curse today. That is all He is asking me to do. Don’t curse today. Today make it your goal to speak only uplifting and encouraging words. When I have that mentality, I do a lot better, even in the most relaxed situations. What makes me do better? It’s the Holy Spirit that instantly convicts me when I’ve said something I shouldn’t of said. It’s an instant knowing, “Oops, that was wrong.” You can’t do anything about it once it’s said. You can apologize, you can try to not let it happen again. The one thing you can’t do is take it back once you’ve said it.
Which leads to one of my Mom’s favorite sayings, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” One way I speak uplifting and encouraging words is by not saying anything at all. Because I don’t have anything nice to say. Sometimes it requires a trick I learned from a friend, I put my hand literally over my mouth to keep it closed. This has kept me out of a lot of trouble. It is such an easy mantra to learn, to apply. If it’s not uplifting and encouraging, don’t say it.
More than anything, give yourself grace if not every word that comes out of your mouth is perfect. God never meant it to be. He just meant you to be you, the person He created for a very special purpose here on earth. It is one only you can fulfill. One that God created you specifically to accomplish with the words He will give you when you need them. Words that will be uplifting and encouraging
