Sometimes we just love to hear ourselves. We love our own opinions and enjoy expressing our feelings. And in that place we often “listen to ourselves”, instead of speaking to ourselves. We can get so in tune with our own thoughts that we fail to hear God’s.
If the source of our hope is Christ, then that hope informs our story. His word becomes the foundation by which we remind ourselves of truth, and walk it out.
But we have a dilemma. Many voices cry for our attention. And the ones we listen to fuel our voice.
You can see it most prominently in our speech. I’m a mother of aspiring adults, and just being around their friends and in their company, I catch myself blurting out phrases like, “I got you,” and “No probs.”
In fact, I was recently helping one of my children study an extensive menu for a job interview, when I said, ” I should apply for this job. I know the menu as well as you now. I could ‘make bank!'”
“No, Mom.”
“What?”
“You don’t say ‘make bank.'”
“Why? Did I say it wrong?”
“No. It’s just my generation’s saying. It doesn’t fit you.”
Wow. How telling. In that moment my role was defined as mother. To him, my words should fit my station. Not that his friends wouldn’t love it! I’d be super relatable, right? But those words didn’t reflect my true nature. And if we are to make a difference, our words should “fit” our nature in Christ.
The same is true of our thoughts. Depending on where they dwell, our message will be one that glorifies Christ, or one that dims His message.
The source of wisdom sits in God.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.
Matthew 7:24
Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on a rock.
Having and doing God’s word is the way to happiness in this life and the next. If our lives and words are informed by His word – studied, contemplated, trusted, practiced- our words will “fit.”
And that informs our message. We can have confidence in our voice when we know the words come from a heart that has listened to God.
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