It’s not like me to say something like that. Or is it?

March 7, 2014: It’s not like me to say something like that. Or is it? Please “Share” this link to a new Precious Prodigal Blog Post: http://bit.ly/1ch59gi

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord…”

I’m still thinking about the ways I offend with my words, and there are other things that trouble me besides the fact that I sometimes speak impatiently. The biggest is that I sometimes shock myself with the words that come out of my mouth. I’m not talking about profanity but the blunt, even unkind things I sometimes say. It doesn’t happen often. And when it does, I sometimes say (but only after the fact), “It’s not like me to say something like that.” Well, it’s not. Or is it?

It isn’t easy to speak kindly when someone you love has hurt you, continues to hurt you and shows no sign of repentance. It’s even harder to respond kindly when cruel words are being said to you. In the heat of anger, bitterness, or disappointment, we might say something and then immediately or later on amend it by saying, “I didn’t mean that” But did we mean it? The truth is we almost certainly meant exactly what we said, at least at the moment we said it. A friend recently told me, “I always say what I mean. It’s just that I sometimes say things I didn’t mean to say.” There’s a big difference there, and my friend is absolutely correct. God’s word tells me it’s “out of the abundance of the heart” that the mouth speaks. (Matt. 12:34) And while I don’t like hearing that, I know it’s true.

If it’s only from the abundance of the heart that my mouth speaks, maybe the problem isn’t my mouth at all. Maybe it’s my heart. More specifically, maybe it’s the things I harbor in my heart.  If that’s true, it isn’t only my words I need to guard against. It’s also the meditation of my heart. Think about it. If we focus on our hurts, fears, and disappointments, why are we surprised if the words we say are negative or destructive? To expect otherwise would be like squeezing a lemon and expecting it to pour out sweet apple juice. What comes out under pressure is only what was there all the time.

If my words are going to be pleasing and acceptable to the Lord and encouraging to others, something needs to change. And that change will need to start in the meditations of my heart. Meditation isn’t some mysterious discipline. It’s only focused thinking. And anyone who loves a prodigal knows about focusing their thoughts…we do it for hours a day when we are worrying about that prodigal. When I focus on God’s goodness, His grace, His unchanging love, and the way He blesses me each day, I don’t have the time or inclination to build resentments that will overflow on people around me. It takes self-discipline to focus on those things, and it’s one of the reasons I do a daily gratitude list. The truth is I can’t be grateful and hateful at the same time. And neither can you.

Challenge for Today: Can you, just for today, search your heart, give those resentments to God and focus on His goodness?

Author's Note

March 7, 2014:
It’s not like me to say something like that. Or is it?
Please “Share” this link to a new Precious Prodigal Blog Post:
http://bit.ly/1ch59gi