“And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long.”—Psalm
35:28
In a day of slipping moral values and standards,
this devotion highlights the importance of choosing words that produce life and reflects who we are: followers of
Christ living out his pure standard of thought and speech in a polluted
culture.
I grew up in a non-Christian home where expletives
were part of our everyday language. In my
efforts to be a “tom-boy”, I took pride in my ability to vent language that was
only meant for “the men” to speak. When
I became a Christian, the process of sanctification began and the Holy Spirit
illuminated certain scriptures to me concerning my tongue and my language.
Although our world may be a place where we are continually bombarded
with crude, explicit language on television, in the movies, at shopping malls,
or in the workplace, the Scripture is clear that the tongue of a Christian is to be used to produce life.
I have highlighted some scriptures for you today
that can be used for meditation, reflection and positive confession to change
your world. Remember that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). In Ephesians 4: 20-32, the Apostle Paul emphasized
the fact that we are to “put off” the
old un-regenerated man and “put on” the
new man. In order for us to change a bad
habit, we must replace the behavior.
Look at verses 25-32 and contrast the kinds of words we are to “put off” and “put on.” And then meditate,
reflect and confess the following scriptures to help produce life in your
world.
“My lips will not speak
wickedness, Nor my tongue utter
deceit” (Job 27:4).
“Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit” (Psalm 34:13)
“And my tongue shall speak of Your
righteousness And of Your praise
all the day long” (Psalm 35:28).
“The mouth of the righteous
speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks
of justice” (Psalm 37:30).
“You shall hide them in the
secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them
secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues”
(Psalm 31:20).
“My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; For
they are confounded, For they are brought to shame Who seek my hurt” (Psalm
71:24).
“There is one who speaks like
the piercings of a sword, But the tongue
of the wise promotes health”
(Proverbs 12:18).
“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles
(Proverbs 21:23).
“For He who would love life And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from
evil, And his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10).
Prayer—Father I thank You for
helping me retrain my heart, my mind, and my tongue into thinking and speaking
what is right and good in Your sight and the sight of people. Lord, I desire truth to abide in my inward
most parts and I ask You to help me speak those things that produce life in my
world, in Jesus Name. Amen.
