Empty Words
There is ruin in a flood of empty words. Fear God instead. . . . The more words you speak, the less they mean. So why overdo it? Ecclesiastes 5:7; 6:11
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I am a person of many words. So when I read these verses from Ecclesiastes, I am convicted of sometimes “overdoing it” when it comes to talking. I may speak words quickly without thinking first or without praying about the situation. Sometimes my words give more information than the hearer needs to know. Often the flood of words comes because I’m worried or concerned about something. But the instruction to “fear God instead” doesn’t mean to just shut up the flow of words or be silent. It means to understand that God is the first place to turn, that we can take our thoughts, worries, and concerns to him in prayer and pour them out to him rather than continue to rehash a situation with others. Then the words that we speak will not cause ruin. As we yield our conversation to God and ask the Holy Spirit to inspire and guide our words, they will not be empty or spoken in vain; instead, they will be full of life.
Prayers:
LORD, forgive me for speaking empty words without thinking first and for times when I talk too much and say too little. I want my words to be full of life, to be of help and value to others, and to reflect your love and grace. Teach me to turn first to you and pour out my concerns and thoughts. Then your Spirit will give me right words to speak.
Quotes:
WORDS. DO YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR POWER? CAN ANY OF US REALLY GRASP THE MIGHTY FORCE BEHIND THE THINGS WE SAY? DO WE STOP AND THINK BEFORE WE SPEAK, CONSIDERING THE POTENCY OF THE PHRASES WE UTTER?
Joni Eareckson Tada (b. 1949)
The One Year Bible Readings for today are: Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:7; Psalm 47:1-9 and Proverbs 22:16.
