Using HIS voice—or yours?
Job 16:3-4 Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing? I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.
Job 18:2 “When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.
Proverbs 5:3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;
Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Proverbs 12:6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
Proverbs 26:25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
Ecclesiastes 5:3 A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.
1 Corinthians 1:5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s Hardships
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
1 Peter 3:15-16 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
O Father God, how am I speaking? What am I saying?
Long-winded?
Argumentative?
Sensibly?
Smooth as oil?
Perversely?
Lying in wait?
Rescuing?
Charming?
Filled with abominations?
Foolishly?
Enriched?
Knowledgeably?
Truthfully?
In the power of God?
Genuinely?
Freely?
Open-heartedly?
By example?
Giving an answer — with gentleness & respect?
Keeping a clear conscience?
Gracefully?
Is it praising You, O Heavenly Father? Or piercing You?
Teach me, O Lord, YOUR beautiful, praiseworthy WORDS. Fill my heart, mind and soul with the soothing song of Your precious, blessed, sacred WORDS, O Lord.
May I learn to speak knowledgeably, gracefully, kindly, open-heartedly and with gentleness & respect. May it please You, glorify You, magnify You, O Lord, when I speak.
In Jesus name. Amen
Are you using your voice? Or learning to use HIS?