A Better Word
Sometimes I feel like God takes me into these seasons, where He is wanting to do a lot of work in a short period of time. I’m not sure if that makes sense at first, but here is the best way I can describe it… I face a lot of different types of challenges, where I feel like my responses and motives are kept in central view in front of me, in order to help me see how I’m responding, what I’m feeling, and what I’m doing in these moments.
Sometimes I walk through a situation, and as He keeps it in front of me, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the change He has made in me. I remember similar situations, where very different things were going on inside of me.
Peace lives where anger used to, forgiveness lives where bitterness used to, joy lives where sorrow used to.
It’s a gift, and it’s really humbling. Yet, there are also moments where He is showing me new things. These are the harder moments for me.
Here is an example I find myself getting caught in. I make the right choice, I say the right thing, I respond in the right way, but… what’s going on inside my mind, my heart, my emotions… not very right at all.
God doesn’t just care what I do, (and He does care) He cares why I do it. God doesn’t just care about how I respond, (and He does care) He cares about my motivation behind the response.
The bar He has set for us is pretty unreal to me when I stop and think about it. It’s challenging, exciting, and absolutely impossible without His help. Consider this passage for instance.
1 Peter 3:8,9 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
Our mind, our attitude toward each other, our actions… all of it matters, and He’s got a plan for us, and He’s wanting to help us and to bless us.
A kind word is great. a kind word with a heart that matches it is even better. A gentle response is great, a gentle response with a humble heart behind it is even better.
I want to encourage us to allow God to challenge us and speak to every aspect of our lives, our attitudes, our motives, and our actions. We want to speak and live and think a good word, but with His help, we can experience a better word!
Daniel Sabo