#words #waterwalkinggirls
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
Words are important. Google “words” in scripture and you will see how much importance is put on our words. Timing, tone, and word choice are all addressed in scripture. There is a time to speak up and a time to be quiet. Proverbs 31:8-9 tells us: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” while Proverbs 21:23 instructs: “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” Bottom line: words are important.

While walking around my neighborhood recently I noticed that many of the oak trees have small ferns growing in them as shown in the picture. I wondered if the ferns were parasites that would eventually kill the oak tree. Over this time at home during the pandemic I have randomly noticed and watched the changes in the ferns. I vividly remember one day passing by one of the trees and noticing that the ferns were brown and dried up and I automatically assumed the people living in the nearby home had sprayed the ferns to keep them from hurting the tree. Yet several days later the ferns were green again. So I did some research. Southern Living explains. “Polypodium polypodiodies is called ‘resurrection fern’ because, in dry weather, the fern’s fronds curl up, turn brown, and seem to be dead-that is, until the next rain, when they turn green and spring back to life. Rain is key to the plant’s common name.” How cool is that! I also learned the fern is not a parasite so it doesn’t hurt the trees. This week as I wrote about words my mind kept thinking of the resurrection ferns. We have the power to use life-giving words; “Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook” (Proverbs 18:4) or we can use words that are like a drought; “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”(Proverbs 18:21)
Now with all that being said, how do we know what to say and when to say it? There is no simple answer to that question. Throughout our day we will have interactions with multiple people and we will have various situations we encounter. In Matthew 15:18 Jesus explains; “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.” So we must work on our heart in order to use wise words. We must stay in tune with Christ so that what comes out of our mouths reflect Him. How do we do that?
• Set aside a daily devotion time. Spend time reading God’s word, learning Scripture, and meditating on verses that speak directly to you.
• Pray. Talk with God. Share your joys, thankfulness, and concerns with Your Maker. Ask God for guidance and direction and be still and listen for answers. Throughout your take have conversation with God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and words.
• Worship. Spend time in worship. It is during times of worship that God shapes your heart and mind. Allow worship to fill you up so that you may later “speak life” to others.
• Talk with Christian friends. Allow God to speak to you through other Christians. Allow them to share their experiences with you and shed light on your situations.
These are just a few examples of ways to build yourself up so you will reflect Christ in your words to others. Currently our world is a mess. If you listen to the news the words you hear are filled with hate, death and destruction. As Christians we are called to more. We are called to use our words to change the conversations, reflect our Savior, and speak life. What will you say today to reflect Christ? What you say matters. What you say makes a difference. Will your words be dry and life draining? Or will your words be a positive rain that resurrects?