I don’t know about you, but the WORD of GOD is all the treasure I have in this world… I embrace HIS words!  I live for them!  HE is my only comfort, my healing, my love, in a cruel world.  HIS word is my bread of life.  When I have no one at all, HIS word sustains me to my core.  I rush to my Bible, I crave it when no one will understand or listen!  BUT give HIM the glory, HE listens, and HIS words are always and forever gentle, and comforting! 

So, pondering this made me think on and evaluate the words that I write and speak.   Are they pleasing in HIS sight and HIS sight only?  Do I think before I speak, and am I humble enough in heart to let others have their say?  And what about that having the LAST WORD on something!!?  CHRIST was completely silent when insults were hurled at HIM! 

Our world today is full of people who speak before they even think… the sad thing is that once the words are “out there” you CANNOT take them back.  If you have been on the receiving end of some hurt, the words just play over and over in your mind.  I can say this with all conviction, because I can still remember a teacher saying to me: “you will never…”  I can see his face, and his contempt for me at that time.  I was a little girl then, but how amazing that I can still remember those words said to me, just like it was yesterday!

During this Lenten season, people are discussing what they are giving up… usually it is food of some kind that they are fond of.  This type of fast is a hard one so I don’t ever commit to it… I always fail.  Any commitment for Lent takes some perseverance and will power.  But at most, it takes reliance on our GOD to make it these 40 days.

I have noticed for some, it is just a ritual… just something they decide to do.  This year I was discussing with a wonderful friend what it means to be intentional about something.  Intentional means with purpose, or being deliberate.  I prayed and asked GOD what HE wanted from me during this time and more important, what HE would do IN me… my answer from HIM was to be intentional about my words, and intentional about my listening.

1 SAMUEL 3:9 says: “SPEAK LORD, YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING.”

I would have to say, so far, that the listening, the being quiet, is easier for me…if I speak less, I tend to hear GOD more in HIS promptings toward me.  I love quiet anyway, so I am enjoying keeping my mouth closed when I can! 

But what about in the real world, and what about social media? Isn’t it so easy to say something hurtful rather than encouraging, and just hit that button?  That’s all it is right?  Just a button?  Does anyone realize that there is a living breathing person on the other end?  Sometimes I think satan has his way with us when we just throw up words to anyone who will listen. 

Don’t get me wrong, I see plenty of CHRISTIAN women who embrace, encourage, and love on one another!  This site is a prime example of love and encouragement!   But I must tell you,  HE has HIS hand holding mine now… hesitating…measuring all I say here, even as I type this post… once again, is it pleasing to YOU LORD?

What I say and how I say it is oh, so important, not only to HIM, but to whom I am saying it.  Words can heal or they can KILL… this intentional thing is tough enough to leave me tongue-tied!   I am trying hard every day to measure my words… very carefully… this is my struggle… HE has me rethinking EVERY word… wow!  OUR GOD and HIS WORDS for us, are HIS SOVEREIGN example to us.  Let’s try to live that way.   

I pray in my heart that you will think before you speak, listen intently to others, and keep HIS word wrapped closely in your heart.  By doing so, you will live more fully in the moment. You won’t miss much when you practice being intentional. 

Every day, may we remember that it is all about HIM anyway… HIS holy words… sprinkled with our love… HIS holy grace… and our needed daily bread.

PROVERBS 30:5  ”EVERY WORD OF GOD IS FLAWLESS, HE IS A SHIELD TO THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM.”