Words matter!

Looking forward to this being sung as one of our prayers during our service this morning. The theme is “Words Matter!” The Test is James 3. 1-12.

By the time our words are spoken they are beyond our control. They cannot be unspoken. A Christian ethic of speech requires an intentional discipleship in our discourse, looks to Christ as arbiter of our conversation, seeks to articulate love of neighbour and enemy as the twin requirements of words spoken or written, and undertakes regular review of what we say, how we speak, and who we show ourselves to be in our ways with words.

This prayer from a 16th Century Book of Hours invites us to seek the help of God in learning to choose our words carefully and speak with a Christian accent that is clear evidence we’ve been spending time in the company of Jesus. (Matthew 26.73)

God be in my head,

And in my understanding;

God be in mine eyes,

And in my looking;

God be in my mouth,

And in my speaking;

God be in my heart,

And in my thinking;

God be at mine end,

And at my departing.