What steps can we take to ensure our words align with God's truth? The Unreliable Stream: Job 6:17 “but ceases in the dry season and vanishes in the heat.” • Job likens his friends’ words to a seasonal stream—flowing and promising when conditions are cool, but disappearing when real heat comes. • Words that evaporate under pressure reveal hearts not anchored in truth. Our goal: become steady springs whose speech remains faithful no matter the climate. Why Consistent Speech Matters • Proverbs 12:22—“Lying lips are detestable to the LORD.” • Matthew 12:34—“For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” If the heart is submitted to God, the mouth will echo Him; if not, words betray our instability. First Foundation: Saturate Your Heart With His Word • Colossians 3:16—“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you…” • John 17:17—“Your word is truth.” Practical ways: – Read Scripture aloud each morning; let your ears hear truth before your tongue faces the day. – Memorize key verses about speech (e.g., Psalm 19:14; Ephesians 4:29) to recall in tense moments. – Replace idle social scrolling with a psalm or proverb; swap input, shape output. Second Foundation: Welcome the Spirit’s Oversight • John 14:26—The Spirit “will teach you all things.” Invite His immediate conviction. A sudden internal check before you speak is often His nudge; obey it without delay. Daily Practices That Shape Truthful Speech • Examine motives: Ask, “Am I about to speak for God’s glory or my own?” • Slow the pace: James 1:19 urges us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak.” Pausing even two seconds filters rash remarks. • Choose edifying words: Ephesians 4:29 sets the bar—only what “builds up.” • Keep promises simple: Matthew 5:37—“Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no.” Complexity can create loopholes for untruth. • Cultivate accountability: Invite a trusted believer to flag any exaggeration or sarcasm that strays from truth. Guarding the Mouth at the Moment of Speaking 1. Breathe and pray silently: one sentence—“Guide my tongue.” 2. Recall a fitting verse; Scripture is the plumb line. 3. Speak briefly, plainly, and kindly. 4. If unsure, wait. Proverbs 17:28 reminds us that restraint often looks wiser than reckless speech. Living Examples to Imitate • The Psalmist—“I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) • The Lord Jesus—“I have not spoken on My own authority… the Father… has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.” (John 12:49) He modeled perfect dependence—never letting a word loose that was out of sync with the Father. Conclusion: Becoming a Spring That Never Dries Up When Scripture fills the heart, the Spirit steers the tongue, and daily disciplines keep us alert, our speech will resemble a perennial spring—refreshing, reliable, anchored in God’s unchanging truth, unfazed by the heat of any season. |
    |