This morning during prayer time, I was talking to the Lord about my resolutions to do better in some specific areas of my life. One of those is using bad language. Now to be fair, I don’t curse very much, but I do, on occasion, use words that are considered ‘bad’ words. And I think them a lot. So one of my resolutions is to do better in this area. It’s a relatively concrete area to apply myself to, so it seems like a good place to start. I thought I would look up some verses to use as my guides. So I typed out the verses below. One of them kind of jumped out at me, Col. 3:8-10, because of the end- “…put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
The Lord saved me so that I could praise Him. I have been made in His image in order to bring Him praise and honor Him, and act as His emissary in this world. I have been made and redeemed to be a part of His body in the world, so that I could shine as a light and let people see just as much of Jesus and salvation in this world as I would allow when I allow the Lord to transform me. And instead, I’ve been spending time saying bad words because things make me mad. That isn’t right and I need to change it if I want to let the Lord’s light shine through me.
“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” Ephesians 5:4
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
“But now you must ride yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:8-10
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” James 3:10
“Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.’ ” Matthew 15:10-11
“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” 2 Timothy 2:16
“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” Philippians 4:8