{"id":22462,"date":"2018-02-17T00:05:16","date_gmt":"2018-02-17T08:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=22462"},"modified":"2018-02-16T11:55:59","modified_gmt":"2018-02-16T19:55:59","slug":"february-17-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/02\/17\/february-17-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"February 17, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cBut the one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.\u201d<\/em> 1 Corinthians 14:3 (NLT)<\/p>\n

\u201cDeath and life are in the power of the tongue and they who indulge in it shall eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.\u201d<\/em> Proverbs 18:21 (AMP)<\/p>\n

Gracious Words<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What we say to others has power to give \u201clife\u201d to them or take it away. By our words we can build up (bless) or tear down (curse). Jesus is our example of one who knew how to bless through gracious words. Luke recounts in his gospel that after Jesus taught in the Nazareth synagogue, the consensus of the people was, \u201cAnd all bare Him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, \u2018Is not this Joseph\u2019s son?\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Certainly if Jesus spoke gracious words, this should also be our aim as we seek to live out His example in our own life. Truly we want our speech to minister God\u2019s grace into the lives of others. With kind and gracious words we can build confidence, offer acceptance, and even foster hope. Gracious words fortify the hearer, they encourage moving forward, and they are the \u201ccheer\u201d that confirms a job well-done. Benevolent words feel like a warmed blanket wrapped around shivering shoulders. Gracious words can change someone\u2019s entire day. Merciful and tenderhearted words deliver healing like a loving mother\u2019s unconditional embrace.<\/p>\n

When I was a child of 11 years, I experienced the powerful, transforming quality of affirming words from my sixth grade teacher. He called me to his side and quietly spoke a prophecy of success to me. He told me that with some greater effort I had the potential to be one of his best students. Evidently, hitherto I had simply been treading water academically. Because I loved and respected my teacher, most definitely I wanted to please him by living up to the potential he envisioned for me. (When this is accomplished, educators call it a \u201cself-fulfilling prophecy.\u201d) The \u201clens of potential\u201d is the optic through which our Heavenly Father constantly views all of us as well.<\/p>\n

We can all speak into the lives of others: children, grandchildren, friends, or a spouse. Our words can identify their gifts, challenge their potential, and encourage their growth, but for our message to be well-received, it must be well-conveyed by caring, kind, and respectful words\u2014those words that deliver blessing and grace.<\/p>\n

A relevant word picture is found in Proverbs 16:24: \u201cGracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.\u201d<\/em> In Proverbs 15:28, we are given guidance to get the result we seek: \u201cThe heart of the righteous one meditates so as to answer.\u201d<\/em> We must think before we speak and let the Holy Spirit select our words!<\/p>\n

\u201cGracious Father, from Your abundance give us wisdom and cause our thoughts to align with Your will. You have <\/em>told<\/em> us in Your Word that a man has joy in making an apt answer, and that a gracious word spoken at the right moment is good. With Your guidance, may our speech always be spoken gracefully. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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