Monday, March 3, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: 1 Peter 4
I come from a family that is careful with their words. I never realized that until the first domestic dispute I went on as a rookie police officer. People were yelling, screaming, and throwing things. I thought, “How can you ever unsay the things you are screaming at this person you claim to love?”
Over time, I’ve come to realize that words don’t need to be shouted to hurt or cause harm. Sometimes, more damage is done when they are spoken softly with malice.
Because I struggle with using my words as weapons, I pray our series’ memory verse almost daily. I love the NIV version:
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
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.
When I think about what “unwholesome” means, I think about the biblical concept of shalom, the very opposite of unwholesome. It means peace, but it also reflects a sense of well-being, wholeness, flourishing, and contentment.
Unfortunately, my words do not always bring a sense of well-being. Sometimes they carry bitterness from unmet expectations or express resentment when things don’t go as I think they should. In recovery, we say that P.R.I.D.E. stands for, Please Remember I Do Everything. It is a trap that I fall into more often than I want to confess to all of you, for sure.
That’s why it is so important to examine the why behind the what.
When we take time to understand the reasons behind our words, we begin to make progress in responding differently. Often, the why reveals unresolved sin—something to confess, repent of, and bring to Jesus, not once, but again and again. True healing comes when we allow Jesus to mend what has hurt us. Only then can the Holy Spirit fill our hearts—and our words—with his love and power, so that what we speak brings life, not despair, doubt, or harm.
Proverbs 18:21
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
In the power of the Holy Spirit, we can bring shalom with our words, forgiving others, just as in Christ God forgave us (Ephesians 4:30-32 NIV).
Bottom Line: What comes out of your mouth is an indicator of what’s stored inside of you.
Questions:
Do you weaponize your words? Is there someone in particular you target? Do you know why?
Next Steps:
If there are people in your world to whom you owe an apology for your words, do it! The humility to ask for forgiveness is very hard but very freeing. Acknowledging we aren’t perfect is important in getting to the why. Ask a friend or your Group to help you.
Prayer:
Father in heaven, I am astonished at your patience and long suffering with me, and so very grateful. Again, Lord, I ask that you let no unwholesome word come from my mouth, but only words which are useful in building others up according to their needs. Heal my heart, Jesus. I give you all the hurt, bitterness, and resentment I have held onto. Let my heart be filled instead with your love and mercy so that my words reflect the compassion you have for all your children. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ephesians 4:29
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
This post was written by Lauri White, an Oregon attendee, and regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.