1. ADMITTING WHEN I’VE DONE WRONG SO RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE RESTORED.
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16 (NIV)
In those times when we have sinned against others and it has negatively impacted our inner peace and in some cases our health, we should practice admitting our sin to those we have hurt and asking for their forgiveness so that healing may take place.
In many instances confessing our sins to God is not enough. We must accept the fact that we are not perfect, admit where we have failed and confess.
There is no human that is above failure and need of forgiveness. When confession goes unspoken closeness is sacrificed. Even our prayer life is affected.
2. KEEPING GOD’S WORD IN MY CONVERSATION.
"...the law of the Lord is to be in your mouth. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with a powerful hand." Exodus 13:9b (NLV)
Since the Bible is such a practical book there is no area outside its application. Family life and other relationships, business, finances, values, etc., make God’s Word something that should play a vital role in our communication every day!
As we speak the Word of God we are positively encouraged, strengthened, made wiser, provided more inner peace, etc.
3. TALKING ABOUT GOD IN POSITIVE PRAISE EVERY DAY.
"And my tongue will tell about how right and good You are, and about Your praise all day long." Psalms 35:28 (NLV) (See also Psalms 71:24)
Inserting praise for God’s righteousness and goodness throughout the day is pleasing to God. When we please Him we are able to draw nearer to Him and receive His blessings.
Thinking about God’s attributes helps us counteract the doubt and temptation around us. We are not so easily swayed by wrong thinking or by our ever-changing emotions.
4. SPEAKING WISDOM.
"The mouth of the man who is right with God speaks wisdom. And his tongue speaks what is fair and right." Psalms 37:30 (NLV)
Compare your experience to being around someone who speaks foolishly with your experience of being around someone who speaks wisely. The emptiness and futility of foolish talking leads to foolish living.
When we speak God’s wisdom we are more likely to live God’s wisdom - and so are those who are positively impacted by our words.
5. SINGING GOD’S WORD.
"May my tongue sing about Your Word, for all of Your Word is right and good." Psalms 119:172 (NLV)
There are basically three types of worship songs (See Ephesians 5:19): "Psalms" (songs based on Scripture); "Hymns" (songs of prasie sung to God); and "Spiritual Songs" (songs of praise about God sung to others). All three are beneficial in worship - personal or corporate. But when songs are based on Scripture there is the confidence that what is being sung is totally accurate and trustworthy.
Singing the Word of God and singing about God’s Word keeps us in the presence of eternal spiritual truth.
