Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
—Ephesians 4:29
There are many cliche sayings in the Christian world but all of them, this one has been the most beneficial to me. This is gonna be short and sweet. I’d love for you to meditate on this and what it means for you. Then drop me a simple comment of an emoji heart or face to let me know how this affected you today (and more if you’d like to share words).
Say what you mean: Don’t always hold all your words in, letting them fester and grow into something bigger than they were intended to be. And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. -Ephesians 4:26-27
Mean what you say: Don’t let your words just spill out of your mouth without thinking about them first. Not every word is meant to be said. Do you really mean these words? See the heading scripture….
Don’t say it mean: If you made it through those first two and you feel led to speak, make sure your words are not coming out in anger. Many times they will not be heard if they come out harsh. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper – it only leads to harm. -Psalm 37:8
I learned this saying a few years ago as I studied the scripture through the lens of recovery. I learned that most of my anger, anxiety and control issues stemmed from not really understanding the biblical model of conflict resolution. I’m so thankful to know this as so many changes are going on in our life. There are exciting things.. and disappointing things… and I’m in a much healthier place than I was several years ago. I’m only in charge of me.
Thanks for letting me share.