How can we ensure our words bring blessings to others today? A Snapshot from Job’s Life “ ‘When the ear heard, it commended me; when the eye saw, it gave witness of me.’ ” (Job 29:11) • Job recalls a season when people could both hear and see tangible blessing flowing from his life. • His words carried such consistency and integrity that listeners instinctively “commended” him—giving glory to God by exalting righteous speech. Principles We Can Lift from Job 29:11 • Consistency: what people heard matched what they saw. • Credibility: blessing-filled speech earned instant respect. • Communal Impact: Job’s words refreshed an entire community (compare Proverbs 10:21). Echoes Across Scripture • Ephesians 4:29—“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building up, that it may give grace to those who hear.” • Colossians 4:6—“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.” • Proverbs 16:24—“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” • James 3:9-10—warning that tongue can bless or curse; choose blessing. Practical Ways to Speak Blessing Today 1. Fill the Heart First • Luke 6:45 reminds us that “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” • Daily Bible intake, worship, and repentance stock the heart’s reservoir with living water. 2. Listen Before You Speak • Proverbs 18:13—answering before listening is folly; listening positions us to bless accurately. 3. Choose Words That Build, Not Erode • Ask: Will this statement encourage faith, inspire hope, or demonstrate love? • Avoid sarcasm, gossip, and half-truths that strip away dignity. 4. Speak Truth in Love • Ephesians 4:15 ties truthfulness to loving delivery—both are essential for genuine blessing. 5. Time and Tone Matter • Proverbs 25:11—“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” • A gentle tone (Proverbs 15:1) diffuses tension and prepares hearts to receive truth. 6. Anchor Encouragement in Scripture • Quoting or paraphrasing God’s promises transfers authority from our opinion to God’s certainty. 7. Affirm Visible Grace in Others • Call out godly qualities you observe—courage, kindness, perseverance—pointing to Christ as source. Guardrails to Keep Speech Pure • Regular self-examination (Psalm 139:23-24) to detect bitterness or jealousy before it leaks into conversation. • Accountability partners who lovingly confront unwholesome talk (Hebrews 3:13). • Quick repentance when careless words slip out (Matthew 12:36-37). Daily Habits That Sustain Blessing Speech • Memorize key verses on the tongue (e.g., Psalm 19:14; Proverbs 15:4; James 1:19). • Begin each day by surrendering your mouth to the Lord (Isaiah 50:4). • End each day reviewing conversations, thanking God for wins and confessing losses. A Vision to Carry Forward Imagine families, workplaces, and communities where every believer mirrors Job’s testimony—ears hearing us commendable, eyes seeing deeds consistent with our words. Living this way, we will echo Psalm 45:2: “Grace has poured upon Your lips,” and others will taste that grace through us. |
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