Daily Thought for Tuesday, November 1st

November 1, 2011

Being Aware of Your Words

Today’s Thought:

“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” – Mark Twain

Today’s Quote:

“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” – Rudyard Kipling

Today’s Question:

Did you know that there are times when: “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightening and the lightening bug?” – Mark Twain

Today’s Bible Verses:            Matthew 12:35-37 &  James 3:3-10

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“If all who speak would weigh their words, how light the air would be.” – Anonymous

Have you ever stopped to think about how many words you utter in a day?

But greater still, have you ever stopped to consider what those words might meant to those who have heard them?

Often our words have a far greater impact than we might imagine.

The old adage, we all heard as children, is very apt and appropriate: especially for us as Christians: We need to ‘think before we speak.’

Sadly we, especially with our brothers and sisters in the faith, put words out there before we sometimes even think of the impact they will have.  I have heard more people state they have been hurt by what some brother or sister said: when often that brother or sister isn’t even aware of the offense.

I’ve often heard it said, ‘Silence is golden:’ and maybe if we don’t weight and consider the impact of what we are saying – many times it might behoove us to remain quiet.

The gift of language and the tools of communication are vital to the development of our relationships with others – yet if we are not careful these same tools for good can become weapons for destruction.

May we all be challenged to give a pause and actually consider the implications and potential impact of what we say – before we way it.

Today’s Prayer:

Father help me to be diligent to watch what I say: and when I do, even if it is unintended, hurt someone with my words – let me be humble enough to make amends if I can.

“A single word often betrays a great design.”

- Jean Baptiste Racine