Most days, I love my minivan. When its floor seems excessively littered with crumbs and random items, however, my affection wanes.
On one particular trip to the carwash, I began talking with the woman who was wiping my van’s newly washed windows. I soon realized that she didn’t speak much English. Frustrated by the language barrier, I fumbled to find the words to share the truth of God’s love. Though sorely inadequate, I decided to return another day to bring her a copy of the Spanish translation of a book that I had written.
My experience made me think about how often a language barrier exists between us and God. Negativity, doubt, and gossip are just a few of the barriers that hinder our communication with the Lord.
Speaking the same language not only enables us to exchange ideas and information, it also reveals our level of understanding of a particular culture. The concept is the same within the kingdom of heaven. We shouldn’t speak one thing and be another. Do we speak His language? Or do we want to continue speaking the language of this world while still expecting to understand the things of God? Our language will reveal our residency.
Demonstrating the power of words, God spoke the world into existence. He’s serious about our words because He knows that:
• God’s Word is our weapon of warfare. There is great power in His words! (1 Samuel 2:1; Psalm 149:6).
• Our words reveal what’s in our hearts. The things we say reflect who we are on the inside (Deuteronomy 30:14).
God’s love for us requires that our speech be consistent with what we profess to believe. What we say is no small matter (Matthew 12:36).
More:
• Psalm 141:3
• Proverbs 16:23
• James 3:10
Next:
Do your words line up with God’s Word? What is something specific that needs to change in your speech?
myron on January 7, 2010 at 7:41 am
some time at home i get mad and say
bad things to the people in my
house
i pray that God will take bad
words out of my mouth
regina franklin on January 7, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Dear Myron,
I think the greatest tests of my walking by the Word come at home or with those closest to me. I will be praying that the Lord will give you spiritual eyes to see behind the actions of others to the heart God has for them. Jesus told us that the mouth speaks out of the heart. How awesome to know that we can pray as David did: “Create in me a clean heart” (Psalms 51:10). May the Lord be your encouragement and strength.
learning2serv on January 8, 2010 at 9:56 am
Myron, bless you for sharing us in your prayer. Sometimes in my heart I get mad and think bad things about people. Please continue to pray with me.
kenny402009 on January 7, 2010 at 8:15 am
my problem is that i do not consistently have a regular devotional time with god. i mean the world is pouring in and the world is pouring out. god is barely in the equation….through my own decisions my life is a wreck. pray for me to get my life back on track.
cargojack on January 7, 2010 at 11:46 am
I had to truly make a decision that I could not live in two worlds. Choose to live in God’s eternal grace and build your relationship with Him DAILY. Equip yourself with the full armor of God Eph 6. He will show you the way if you fully submit to His will in your life.
regina franklin on January 7, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Dear Kenny,
Praying for you tonight as I write this message. May you love His Word above all else and may His Word become life to you as you faithfully surrender your will to His.
learning2serv on January 8, 2010 at 9:57 am
Praying with you Kenny…
shayskin on January 7, 2010 at 11:37 am
Since this year came in I have a new concept of what I say and what I do So God had already started to heal my words that come out of my mouth
Thank be to God and the Holy Bible those words are to live by
High praises to God
KayElAr on January 7, 2010 at 5:04 pm
I think many people think they have a spiritual life separate from their world life. This isn’t the case. God needs to be an active part of your whole life. His words are the truth and they need to be shared.
regina franklin on January 7, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Absolutely! It’s all too easy to compartmentalize things into our church life and our life outside of church. We ARE the temple–wherever we go and all the time.
obengdako on January 7, 2010 at 5:33 pm
@ kenny402009 i realised that in life we make time for the things we truly value, take time and set your heart right because where the heart is that’s where your treasure is and remember to guard your heart because once your heart gets into something it stays there so watch the things you cherish so much and nurture the things that are noble, pure, etc.
and true language barrier is a problem, i remember sharing the word with someone in a language i’m not so comfortable in, when i had to pray, my colleague had to finish the prayer for me in that language.
Notwithstanding what we say truly does matter.
jjw2855 on January 7, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Thank you for your post. It is a timely reminder for me that if I am in Christ, I need to speak Christ’s language. Language barriers can cause a great communication breakdown. Wrong words will give a wrong message. Yet “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11.
In James 3:9 & 10, Lord Jesus’ brother said, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
Lord Jesus, help me speak the right words to communicate your love to all. jjw2855 🙂
regina franklin on January 7, 2010 at 8:56 pm
I’m thankful the Lord used this post to minister in your life. I, too, want to be someone who speaks life into those around me. In an age where words fly at great speed (texting, twitter, blogging, email), we need to remember that we have many avenues by which we “speak.” It reminds me of Paul’s admonition to speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16). Imagine how different we would all feel at the end of the day!