​Psalm 145:21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

In this Instagram and Facebook era it’s tempting to keep all the news feed filled with carefully staged pictures of model homes and adorable children. When I raise my eyes from my laptop screen I know I cannot compete with this unspoken challenge of “Look Who Has the Perfect Life.”

Some people love the camera. They pose. They set the scene. They broadcast their message. But, is it truth, or performance?

We may love the camera or mic, but do we love Jesus more? Are we willing to step back and let Jesus have the final word?

The reach of our words is horizontal
Remember, our words live. They impact the people we speak to. Those people may in turn share what they heard from us. This should caution us to use discernment as we speak, in person and online. We truly don’t know how far our words will go.

**Talk about life and the challenges you face. You don’t need to go into the nitty-gritty of              everything, but don’t be afraid to reveal the struggles. Everyone needs to know they are not alone. The Apostle Paul wrote honestly about his life but always ended with a “shout-out” of praise to God.

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 “I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” 
           
**Educate yourself on current event topics and world affairs. Use reliable sources of information that aren’t biased against the truth. In the same way a gel filter on a stage light affects how the actors are seen on stage, so a person’s worldview colors their perception. Is there a well-rounded presentation of the issue? I’ve found that World Magazine tries to present news stories in a reliable way. Look for the “Solomon’s” to learn from.

Keep in mind that no one is an expert in everything. When in doubt, don’t. Err on the side of discretion and prudence as discussions go deeper. Pray for discernment.

1 Tim 6:20-21  “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly {and} empty chatter {and} the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge" 21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. ¶ Grace be with you.”   
          
1 Kin 4:34 “Men came from all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.”

The point of our words is vertical
Our words truly find worth when we use them with a vertical purpose. When possible, we need to focus the conversation back to the Word of God and the hope we have in Jesus Christ. This becomes easier when we have Scripture stored in our hearts from which to draw.

Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading as you speak. There have been times on-air when I’ve begun my comment with a certain end in view and somewhere along the way the Holy Spirit commandeered my thought, bringing me to an entirely different final point. I’ve sat back, and simply said, “Wow. Somebody must have needed to hear that!” I’ve been blessed to find out from someone that it was precisely that random comment that ministered Grace to them just when they needed it.

Don’t be overly scripted or pushy in what you say. It’s not about our wisdom or eloquence. After all, God used a Balaam’s donkey to get His point across to a stubborn prophet. I think God was able to use that donkey because she was willing to be used by her Creator.

Are we willing to use our words in a worthy manner?

Are we salting our conversations with the hope, peace, and joy we have in Jesus?

Are we drawing others to find life in the Lord Jesus Christ?

May our words reflect God’s Word, as we read in 2 Tim 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Remember, our calling is to faithfully testify of God’s greatness and goodness until Jesus returns.

2 Pet 1:19  "So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts."

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:5-6 (NASB)

Based on the fact that we have two eyes, two ears, and one mouth, one might think we should watch and listen twice as much as talk and talk half as much as we think we ought. 

This perspective becomes crystal clear once you’ve heard yourself speak. I found this out soon after I was hired on to work on-air at our local Christian radio station. You see, talking is no problem for me. But in order for me to improve and grow as a speaker on the radio I needed to hear myself objectively. I had to be my own honest critic by identifying repetitive habits and curtail my aimless oral rambling.

Having a teachable heart is vital in giving worth to our words.

Actually, our public speaking as well as our private conversations would be improved if we considered these following points:

Do I say too much? On the radio 30 seconds is a long time to speak extemporaneously, i.e. without script. Rambling thoughts often miss the mark. Begin with a hook (something ear-catching or interesting). Use one sentence to elaborate on that hook to get you to the point you want to make. State your main point (the “mic drop,” or not).

Do I repeat myself a lot? This comes from not listening to yourself and really hearing what you say. This is why you need to consider your words before you say them so they will be effective. Look for a way to share, share it, and then willingly relinquish the mic for another person to respond.

Do I talk about myself too much? It’s okay to share a personal story as long as you are using it as a stepping stone to your key statement. It’s all too easy to get engrossed in the details and bunny trails of one’s personal events and then end up not saying much of anything by the time you’re done. There is a time for personal testimony. Make sure you’re not pushing out someone else’s chance to share theirs.

We don’t always know who’s in our general audience.

In Colossians 4:5, we are admonished to make our way through this world fueled with godly wisdom toward those who don’t know the Lord, so that we will make use of every opportunity to do good. Basically, to be a faithful witness of our Faithful God.

In verse 6 we find we make use of every opportunity to do good by allowing God’s Grace to stimulate and spice our words. Gracious salting gives joy, promotes healthy dialogue, and advances the ministry of reconciliation to Christ to which all believers have been called.

Remember, there ARE two people who have an “all access pass” to your show – you and God. Gracious speaking benefits our own thinking because the words we read and say aloud help to retain them in our long-term memory.  We need that recall when troubles come.

Retelling God’s gracious words also blesses Him as we exalt His Holiness, Goodness, Mercy, and Love.

Our words are important. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
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Let’s use our words wisely so they will cause a lingering hunger for more of God.