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GOD-TRACKING IS SPEAKING POSITIVE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
by Dudley Anderson GodTracker 706 Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Steve was packing up his guitar after leading worship at the Sunday evening church service. He’d been attending this church for three years and believed he had built good relationships with other people in the fellowship. As he picked up his guitar to leave, Ron walked up to him. “Steve, the music was good tonight,” he said, “but I need to tell you something. We’ve known each other for a while but, I want you to know that I’ve always had a problem with you. But I sorted it out tonight. I’m ok with you now.” Ron promptly turned on his heels and strode away, leaving Steve bamboozled and wondering what it was about him that Ron had had a problem with. Ron’s heart was now “ok”, but it was Steve who was now left with the “problem”. Words are like superglue. Once you get it on your fingers it sticks. Author Ted Chiang said, “Four things do not come back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.” Scripture tells us that the words we speak have the power to inspire life or bring death to a soul. Jesus said this: “Hear and understand, it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” He also said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Ron believed he was being honest and transparent when he told Steve he had a problem with him. However, Steve had no idea that he had ever offended Ron in any way what so ever. Ron only invoked concern in Steve’s heart with his confession; concern that he was not a nice guy. Ron’s statement left Steve feeling confused about his subliminal character and behaviour. How many other people had he unwittingly offended? He felt hurt that he had somehow offended Steve without knowing it. Dear God Tracker, let us beware of our words! My mother used to always say, “Think before you speak.” In our story today, Ron might have thought he was being honest with Steve when he told him he’d always had a problem with him, but his words did more damage than they did good. Transparency is a healthy concept but when being transparent causes undue hurt, it is better to guard the gate of your lips. Therefore, as God’s word says, let us rather encourage one another with our words and build one another up. God-tracking is speaking positive words of encouragement. READ ALL ABOUT IT Follow Dudley Anderson on Twitter @godtracker DON’T GIVE UP, LOOK UP & PRAY I commit my words to you. Help me to encourage my friends and loved ones by what I say to them. “My Lord, I am sorry for the times that I may have spoken words to others without considering how my words might affect them. I pray that if I have unduly hurt anyone through my words that you will bring healing. Help me to guard the gate of my lips and think before I speak. Dear Lord, I commit my words to you. Help me to encourage my friends and loved ones by what I say to them. Amen.” If you desire more prayer, please email me - [email protected] SUBSCRIBE to the FREE weekly e-devotional GodTracker at… ---------------------------- GodTracker is a weekly e-mail devotional based on the premise that God has a plan for our lives. His Word calls us to seek his plan by acknowledging him in all our ways and by tracking his purposes, in faith. Listen to podcasts by Dudley Anderson at… http://godtracker.co.uk/godtracker-podcasts - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - GodTracker is brought to you free of charge. However, there are many expenses involved in delivering this service to you. Please consider partnering with us to help us continue providing this inspirational thought, at http://godtracker.co.uk/ Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa Dudley Anderson began writing for radio in 1994. Dudley currently writes a weekly e-mail Christian motivational thought called GodTracker and has complied 2 devotional books based on GodTracker. More information at surereaity.net Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |