Week 7 - What Will You Choose?

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

When my youngest son was just a toddler you would often find him sitting in his walker next to our aquarium.  He loved watching all the brightly colored fish swimming back and forth in front of him.  Seeing his increasing interest in our little underwater world inspired me to try something new.  I purchased a couple of tiny underwater frogs and added them to our growing collection of sea creatures.

One day, as he and I sat intently staring into the tank, I realized one of the frogs was missing.  I searched high and low for days but I simply couldn't find any trace of it.  Assuming the fish in our tank had enjoyed a gourmet meal of frog legs, I soon forgot about my little escapee.  That is until the day I noticed my son parked in his walker along the back side of the aquarium, a place he normally didn't sit.  Just as I approached him to investigate, he grabbed a very shriveled, extremely crunchy frog and stuffed it in his mouth!  Yes, he had officially become the youngest seafood connoisseur the world has ever known!

As distasteful as this story may be, nothing we ever put into our mouths can compare to some of the horrible things that come out of our mouths.  Did you know that there are over 120 verses pertaining to how we speak to one another in the book of Proverbs alone?  If you spend any time in Bible study, you will notice early on that God, in His wisdom, covers some topics repeatedly.  He knows there is great power in the words we say to one another.  Power we can use to either build someone up or tear them down.  He also knows that controlling our tongues is one of the biggest challenges we face in our daily walk. 

It would seem that 1 Thessalonians 5:11 supports the age old instruction we've probably all heard from our mothers, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all".  Many of us don't realize the impact our words have on each other or that we have a choice in this matter.  We can choose critical, judgmental words that hurt or, with God's help, loving, accepting words that heal.  Either way, you will be making a big difference in everyone's life with whom you speak.  What will you choose?

~Up Close and Personal~

When was the last time you were deeply hurt by something someone said to you?

Would you agree that what they said had great power over you at the time?

Can you see your own responsibility in how you speak to others?

Do you realize, no matter how we may be feeling, we can choose loving words of encouragement over hurtful words that tear others down?  So often we get this truth turned around.  We tend to think we can’t do something unless it feels right.  In all reality we often must choose to do what we know is right and let our feelings catch up later.

~Name It~

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:11 aloud.

So many of us long to make a difference in our world; we dream of changing things for the better and leaving our mark behind.   Has it ever occurred to you that something as seemingly insignificant as the way we speak to others could do just that?

Have you ever sought advice from someone during a difficult time?  What was the impact that conversation had on your circumstances?

Most of the time, the people we turn to cannot resolve our problems.  They can however give us the encouragement we need to press on.  Who do you want to be?  Do you want to be the one who makes a positive impact on the lives around you?  Or would you rather be the one who only makes matters worse?  It’s your choice.

~Claim It~

Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for all the times I have given in to negativity and judgmental thinking.  I pray that you would offer me another chance to make a positive difference in the lives of those around me.  I pray that through my words, I would honor and glorify you and your love for us.  I know this will not be an easy task for me.  I realize I will still make mistakes.  But I also know that I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me!  Help me each and every day to make the right choice!

In your heavenly name I pray, Amen.