What factors fight against our grace-motivated effort to tame our tongues and use grace-filled speech during our conversations?
An escalation of pain, fatigue, or depression can result in a greater vulnerability to complain or display an edgy tone of voice even around those we love. We might catch ourselves rationalizing sins of the tongue due to the affliction we’re experiencing, as if we deserve a reprieve from God’s standards to compensate for our suffering.
As COVID-19 forces more of us to work at home, the extra time around loved ones can strain relationships and increase our impatience and anxiety about job security and finances.
Have either of these made it more difficult for your words to be grace-filled? Whether grace-filled or not, our words act like a thermometer of the heart.
HEART THERMOMETER, GRACE-FILLED SPEECH: A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
I wrote the devotional and poem that follow many years ago, but the Biblical perspective of grace-filled speech they convey has never been timelier. When a young child acts cranky or listless, we might check them for a fever. If their temperature is much above 98.6 degrees, we know there’s an infection of some sort that needs medical attention. No matter why you visit the doctor’s office, a nurse usually takes your temperature, because it’s a vital sign of physical health. A reading above the norm signals trouble somewhere in the body.
OUR SPEECH ACTS AS A THERMOMETER OF THE HEART
Similarly, the tongue is a vital sign of spiritual health. Our speech patterns provide a good indicator of the condition of our hearts. They act as a thermometer of the heart. The nature of our conversations shows whether or not we have an infection of the heart that needs immediate attention. Here’s how Jesus put it: “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45, emphasis mine.
This truth, combined with the Holy Spirit’s conviction over something I had said, inspired my poem. Truly our words act a a thermometer of the heart. May we be tuned to God’s word and with His help may our words be grace-filled and glorify Him.
WORDS FROM THE HEART
My words aren’t always soft, or sweet. I’ve said things labeled indiscreet. When I’m not Spirit-filled I’m prone to couch my words in toxic tone.
With feelings worn upon my sleeve come words I wish I could retrieve. I regret times that I’ve been caught speaking without engaging thought.
I must not underestimate how deeply words can penetrate. For everything a person hears goes to the heart, not just the ears.
Let my words give comfort and grace and put a smile upon the face of all who hear the things I say; let my words help, not hurt, I pray.
Yes, I must guard my wayward heart, for that is where the wrong words start. The problem is not with my speech: It’s putting God far out of reach.
It’s prayerlessness. I can’t afford to rely on self and not the Lord. The tongue is far too wild to tame unless God’s glory is my aim.
Hi Terry, thank you for your honesty. The poem really hit home to me. I can definitely relate to the way that chronic illness, fatigue and pain can sometimes lead to hasty, impatient speech that we might later regret. Then we need to pray and ask God to help us to tame the tongue, and season our speech with His grace, salt and light instead. Blessings.
Terry is Faculty Emeritus at Columbia International University, and now Adjunct Professor in Church Ministries. Married 50 years, he has two sons, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson. Terry writes about faith and depression at Penetrating the Darkness. His latest book, Oh God, I’m Dying! How God Redeems Pain for Our Good and for His Glory tells of God's sustaining grace in the life of co-author, Dr. Mark Smith, an effective Christian university president despite suffering daily pain from a near-fatal accident.
Mark Smith’s story vividly illustrates the debilitating pain stemming from a near-fatal auto crash, and the initial despondency that ensued. Each chapter brims with slice-of-life anecdotes that show his experiences and God's sustaining grace. Discover how Mark’s faith in Christ was tested, and ultimately deepened. This book is for anyone who experiences chronic physical pain or illness, how God redeems pain for the good of His people, and for His own glory.
The Kindness Challenge: Thirty Days to Improve Any Relationship
Shaunti Feldhahn
Think of your toughest relationship. Now, think of a relationship that is good but could be great. Think of a group of people that drives you nuts. You want to show more kindness and generosity, but sometimes you’re just tired, stretched, and frustrated. Besides, would small actions make that big a difference?Yes!
Show up. Lean in. And be intentionally kind. Kindness is love in action. It shapes the relationships between us and builds a strong foundation of deeply caring and faith-enriched communities.
Letter-writing is a vital and life-giving ministry not only to those who are hurting, grieving, recovering, homebound, lonely, ill, depressed, or isolated, but to the writer as well.
Encourage and inspire others by putting #PenToPaper with one (or more!) of our creative notecard or postcard collections. How about tucking one of our professionally printed guides in the envelope?
Hi Terry, thank you for your honesty. The poem really hit home to me. I can definitely relate to the way that chronic illness, fatigue and pain can sometimes lead to hasty, impatient speech that we might later regret. Then we need to pray and ask God to help us to tame the tongue, and season our speech with His grace, salt and light instead. Blessings.