Beverly and I have a small covenant group we meet with on Thursday nights for study, sharing and prayer. We are studying James, and last night we were talking about the tongue.
I cited Matthew 12: 34, that says "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." And as we sat there, it's like it just hit me. The tone of my speech has been an issue for me for much of my life. I don't recognize it, but I know others do -- especially my wife and kids. Through the years, my approach has been, "I really need to work on my tone."
But it hit me last night. And it's not like it's a new revelation, because Jesus said it a long time ago. But I realized that I have been treating symptoms of the problem and not the disease itself. My problem issues from my heart. I don't like admitting that -- but the tone of my words reflects my heart.
So I am going to pause each day -- every couple of hours -- to ask God to change my heart. I want to be kinder and gentler. I want my lips to reflect a heart that is sold out to God!
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5 comments:
I have to work on this one too. Especially when I hear myself in Malaya. Ick!!
You are my hero! What an open heart! Let's work on this one together!
Thanks for the great thoughts Rick. If I could only get so many of the words that have escaped my mouth back. So many I have hurt, so many tears I've caused all for something with just a little thought, I could have prevented.
I really need to work on my tone as well . my tone of voice gets me in more toruble than the words I say .
I need to work on this one too. I don't realize I have a tone, but everyone looks at you like what's bugging you. I especially realize it when Jeremy tells me he doesn’t have an attitude and I say it was your tone of voice. Wow! God really has a way of waking us up to our faults, especially when we hear them coming out of our children's mouths. Thanks for reminding me that tone is everything. I will join you in your prayer and even more so for myself. Thanks for a post that hit me right between the eyes.
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