Let God the Holy Spirit shape your heart before you speak.
We will speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4:14-15
“Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.” – Ephesians 4:23-25
How can we actively receive help from the Holy Spirit, shaping our hearts so that we care for the people we will speak to? Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in truths on this subject.
1. Your words matter. That’s God’s view.
“People will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:36-37
2. Your heart matters.
“Out of the heart, the mouth speaks”
“For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.“ – Matthew 12:34
I don’t know where that came from. I need to think about where that came from. What is going on in my heart?
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight Lord my rock and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14
3. Your motive matters.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” – John 13:35
“Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you.” – 1 Peter 4:11
4. Your theology matters.
“Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” – Genesis 1:26
Nothing speaks more to what we believe about someone than how we communicate with them. And if we do not begin rightly with a strong understanding of the image of God in all people – as people of inherent dignity and worth – then we will never speak to them as such. – Redeeming How We Talk by Ken Wytsma and AJ Swoboda
5. Your role matters.
“You are a chosen people of royal priesthood a holy nation. God‘s special possession that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – 1 Peter 2:9
“Jesus walked in absolute security with his father in heaven. He knew who he was because he listened to God. Without having this rock-solid identity it is very difficult for us to maintain a spirit-filled conversational ethic in the world.”
– Redeeming How We Talk by Ken Wytsma and AJ Swoboda
6. Your discernment matters.
“A gentle words are a tree of life; but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” – Proverbs 15:4
We need to speak and be distinguished by careful words, literally words that are full of care.
7. Your self-control matters.
“Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.” – Proverbs 13:3
“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” – Proverbs 13:3
What should we do?
1. Reflect on today’s notes and verses.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to renew our thinking and attitudes, shaping our heart.
3. Write down a few truths from this study.
4. Pray for the people in our lives. (list)