Pause
Our hope as we journey through these 21 days is that we’d all get to know Jesus better and become more like Him. One way we can be more like Him is in the way we use our words.
Take inventory of how you use your own words. Are they encouraging? Peaceful? Gracious? Do your words give others faith and hope? Or do they lean sarcastic, cynical, or callous?
What about your self-talk? Would you say you treat yourself, through your words and thoughts, with the kindness that God treats you?
Don’t be discouraged. It is possible to change the way you think and speak. Be humble, and invite the Lord into the way you use your words.
Reset
Matthew 5:33-37 New International Version
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your own oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Walk with God
This piece of The Sermon on the Mount continues Jesus’s thoughts on the laws people are expected to live out and how He came to fulfill those laws Himself. So, if using your words perfectly seems impossible, have hope!
In what ways do you need to improve the clarity and honesty of your words? How could you improve how you commit and follow through? How could you improve your own use of the word “no” in your life?
In what ways do you need to receive God’s grace and help for your words, commitments, and follow through? Invite Him into these examples and see what He has to say.
Ask the Holy Spirit for a creative way of reminding yourself throughout the day to “let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no”: a note in your pocket, a Post-It on your computer screen, some reminders set up in your calendar—whatever works for you!