Tag: gentle

Intentional Words

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

A gentle tongue is the tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4

Are your words gentle and intentional, rich with meaning?

We usually mean what we say, yes?

Or do you spout forth anything which immediately pops into your brain?

For example you might say, “I’m sick to death about it” when asked about a particular situation.

Do you want to be sick literally until the point of death?

That’s what you just said.

No, you didn’t mean that, so don’t say it.

Don’t declare death over yourself.

Or you might say, “I can’t stand my ______”. Could be a body part, your housing, or your job. Sometimes it can even include your family!!!

If you declare you cannot stand something, you are speaking death over it. Utter displeasure. And your body reacts appropriately.

If you cannot stand something, you wish it gone, because you can no longer deal with it.

Isn’t that too extreme to ever use again?

Thinking again about Proverbs 15:4, how gentle is your tongue?

Your words, are they intentional?

When you have a gentle tongue, your words become intentional in a good way.

You speak life with your words so perverse words do not break your spirit.

So how do we proceed? When your brain reverts back to the patterns of worry and fear, speak life instead.

Use your words to declare you fully trust God and are eagerly anticipating God’s plan to unfold. And until then, you are sheltering in the safety of His peace, absent of fear and worry. Why? Because you know He’s got this, you, and everything else.

A gentle tongue from the tree of life produces blessings for the giver and the receiver, erupting into happy bombs inside your head.

Recently while eating a late dinner in an Oklahoma diner, a waitress approached our table. I looked up with my salad question and smiled at her. She immediately gave me the nicest compliment, telling me I was so beautiful. What unexpected, sweet words!

Perverse speech affects us just as much, doesn’t it? Speaking from selfish hearts can bring all of us down real quick. Not what Jesus had in mind when He talked about fellowship with others.

Words are one of the biggest tools Satan uses to produce death in us when speaking over our situations and in others, when speaking to them.

Our words were designed for life. Remember that the next time you open your mouth, which will probably be soon.

Photos by Amador Loureiro, Kyle Glenn, Patrick Tomasso, & wisconsinpictures on Unsplash

Gently Leading

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Psalm 119:1

How does a shepherd lead his sheep?

Building trust and gently leading them home.

Protecting their every step along the way.

The shepherd’s physical presence leads by example.

How are you leading your family?

Gently leading by example?  Loving them for who they are?

Providing a restful haven in a world full of chaos?

Or are you demanding they follow you.

Prodding with a giant stick, forcing them to obey your agenda.

Sometimes it’s not so dramatically obvious.

Your temper, your reactions, how you cope with life.

The grace with which you embrace life is what they see or don’t see.

Do I want to be like you, they ask.

Are your beliefs something I want to hold dear as well, they ponder.

You are an example of God to your children.

He uses you to reach them.

God’s mercy and love must flow from your lips and hands.

God disciplines us as well, but His motives are pure.

His ways are perfect.

As human parents, we make mistakes.

We fail our children on a regular basis.

Do we try our best?  Usually.

But unless we ask God to fill us with His parenting wisdom, we will rely on our own strength, which, I can tell you, is faulty.

Weak.

Flawed.

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 I desperately want my children to seek the face of God.

To know Him personally.

Fully.

Intimately.

Because they see God through me, I must reign in my own self, for God’s light to shine.

I must allow God to use me for His purpose – to parent His children.

Comes down to watching my lips, my hands, my eyes.

I must be like a shepherd leading his sheep home to safety.

To rest.

Not demanding one thing while acting like another.

As we ask God to pour Himself into us and our families, our children will take root and those roots will produce fruit for years to come.

 Might not see it for awhile, but it will come.

And it will be very good.

Photos by Tanner Yould, Sam Carter, Judith Prins, & Antonello Falcone on Unsplash