In order to speak right speech

Wrong thoughts lead to suspicion, contempt, anger, bitterness, lust, envy, deceit, evil speaking, and myriad sins enough to fill up the rest of this short blog post. I don’t want any of those in my life!

My desire

  • “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
  • Desire and aspiration and good intentions are not enough.
  • Neither is an acknowledgement of truth.

My petition

  • “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).
  • This is the only way Psalm 19:14 will ever be true.
  • We speak from the abundance of our hearts (Luke 6:45).
  • This is God’s work, but He doesn’t leave me workless.

My parts

  • I must choose right thinking, filtering out the evil.
  • “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
  • Too often, the worst evil conversations I listen in on and participate in are my own thoughts.
  • “Do not err; bad conversations corrupt good customs” (1 Corinthians 15:33, my translation from Spanish).
  • I must bring every thought into subjection to the Lord Jesus.
  • “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

My commitment

  • Listen to Psalm 19:14 again: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
  • I commit myself to acceptable thinking and speaking.
  • I need His strength for fulfill such a daunting commitment.
  • And I need His redeeming work in me when I fail and repent.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).

[The Scriptures say in Matthew 4:4 -- Live by...every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God]
Face temptation the right way!

Note: I was the moderator of our evening service Sunday night. To introduce the evening topic of “Resolving Bitterness,” I used the above notes (expanded a bit for this medium) in the opening devotional. I said quite a bit more, of course. 🙂

My brief presentation could be significantly expanded. What do you have to add as another tip for thinking right thoughts and speaking right words?

Surely you could add something...