Speech Patterns

Have you ever been around someone whose every word seemed to grate on your nerves? Could it be that the one who grates on your nerves really needs more of the love of God in their heart and life to help them season their words? Could it be that you, or I, are the ones who are grating on someone else’s nerves? We could all stand to exhibit a little more love and grace in our speech patterns!

Titus 2:8, "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."

When your speech patterns are filled with the Love of God and your manner of speaking to other people is seasoned with grace, then the words that you have to say will be much easier to receive.

Too many times we think that we have all the answers, and that it’s our duty to tell everyone everything that we know. That’s bad enough, but then we also decide that we have to cram it down their throat and force them to hear us. How many of you know that kind of attitude only drives you away from those who are giving the advice?

But if we approach someone with the right attitude, and speak those same words in love and humility, and then leave the hearer to make up his own mind, then they are more likely to hear and heed what you have to say.

At the very lease they won’t go around condemning you for trying to help them.

In closing let me say that the tongue is the hardest part of your body to control. The tongue can be an instrument of blessing or an instrument of cursing. Let’s learn to bridle it and use it for the Glory of God, not the cursing of men.

James 3:5-6, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."

James 3:2, "For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."

Have you learned to control your speech patterns? Are you confession only the good things of God and blessing all around you with words of encouragement? If we can learn to control our speech patterns, we will be about as close to being a perfect man as we can be in this life. Your speech patterns will reveal to us all, just how much of Christ is in you.