A Few Brilliant Ideas...

Sometimes, life seems like it would be so much easier if I could just spill out whatever I'm thinking.

It feels like life would be simpler without a filter...

But it wouldn't, not really anyway.

There's a reason we keep that filter between our thoughts and our mouths. It's called wisdom.

"Psalm 37:30

The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just."

You can open your mouth and utter wisdom, or you can utter folly (which is not to say there isn't sometimes an in between.) I've been called, as have we all, to speak with wisdom rather than folly. This means inspecting my speech before it comes out of my mouth instead of afterward. This is not an excuse to develop crafty statements that are created to deviate people from the truth. It is an opportunity to serve the people around you by giving them insight rather than nonsense (<-something I spew all too often.)

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Sometimes, it feels like blurting out what we're thinking or feeling would be better... But it's against the council of God. In order to prioritize God as our words and meditation, there has to be a filter. This filter is something that we develop by not only focusing on our speech though. Our speech is just a reflection of our thought life, the meditations of our hearts.

Proverbs 11:12-13
A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

The ability to keep a secret is something worth valuing, and though sometimes it seems like it would be so much easier if you just told people whatever that thing is. But a man (or woman) of understanding holds his (her) tongue. God makes a big deal out of our speech, so shouldn't we do the same?

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

This is a vital piece of discernment. Sometimes things are better off left unsaid because they would harm a friendship or a situation more than it would help. Evaluate the long term effects and the short term effects. Do you think about the way your speech affects other people? Do you speak with discernment?

Here's a good indicator, look at your interactions with friends. Do they trust you enough to tell you things? Can they trust you to build them up when they need it? Are you a good friend?

Here's a clarification of "good friend." We all find the phrase about a real friend would be in jail with you saying "that was fun!" Newsflash, no they wouldn't. Your real friends were telling you not to do it and are bailing you out afterwards. They are the people that are trustworthy, those that are wise, and those that would help you when things are looking darkest. None of this, "help you get into trouble" crud.

But more than this... A true friend, or even a kind Christian builds other people up with their speech.

Proverbs 16:24

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

And when the Bible is right, which it always is, the Bible is really right. You have an immense ability to encourage other people, to build them up and to make their day a whole lot better. Small details about the way they've changed, made positive movements toward God. It doesn't even have to be about God, it could be about their painting, or their photography, or even their clothes. You have the ability to change people, whether they want to admit it or not. By encouraging others, you give them a reason to continue what they're doing, to excel and go above and beyond. When I get encouragements from other people on my piano playing, my desire to practice, to excel, to drive myself to do a better job is ridiculous...

But speech is powerful.

You've been given a voice for a reason.

Use it well.

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