Be Intentional in Your Words
Words, words, words
empower us
encourage us
challenge us
defeat us
give hope to us
even destroy us at times
When you think about how powerful our words our, you must learn to be intentional in our words. When you think about speaking, you want to be speaking words that give life. You must be intentional in your words.
How to be intentional in your Words
As you look through this list, notice that a number of these do not even require your mouth. Before you even open your mouth there are things that you need to do. Then you are ready to speak. There are also things to do after you speak.
Be slow to speak
Silence can be painful but learn to embrace silence and just slow down in your speaking. There is no race to get the words out. James teaches this truth in James 1:19, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” (ESV)
Think before you speak
During the silence, think. Think about what you are going to say. How will those words be perceived and received? Think about your relationship with the individual. Fools rush in and speak but the wise will pause and think before speaking. Be wise with your words.
Learn to listen
I am convinced that listening does not come easily. Listening requires that we be quiet, focus on others, and pay attention all of which are difficult in a self-absorbed world.
Ask questions
Ask questions that will clarify what the person is thinking or feeling. Questions can help you to understand a bit more information before you jump into speaking. It is a balance of not asking too many questions and causing frustration. The questions might be to clarify information or it might be a question to help the other individual to think about what is happening. Quest
Be truthful and Loving
Speak words that are truthful and loving. Truthful and loving need to be together. The words can be truthful but not spoken in love. Sometimes we think we are loving by not telling the full truth. We need both truth and love together.
Be encouraging
Words that encourage can mean all the difference. Depending on the person and the situation words that encourage can vary. Be ready to encourage.
Reflect at the end of the day
Personally, I don’t think we reflect enough on our words and actions. I am challenging myself to just reflect a bit more. I think reflection is needed to be intentional. As you learn to be intentional with your words, take the time to reflect on conversations and words that you spoke that day using the points above to help evaluate your words.
God is intentional in his words
Think about how God speaks to us. How is God intentional in his speaking? Most of the way that God speaks to us today is through the Bible. God also speaks to us through our prayers.
He listens to us. Throughout the Psalms, David cries out to God and records that God has heard his cry. God listens to us.
His words are truthful and loving. He is God and so truth and love is part of who he is. The words that he speaks to us are truthful and loving.
God asks questions. God’s interactions with Job are full of questions. Jesus interacts while here on earth were full of questions. That shows the value of questions in our conversations.
My grandmother was in her 90’s when she shared with my mother the hurtful words that were spoken to her by a classmate about 85 years earlier. For more than 85 years those words stayed with my grandmother. When I read that, it was a reminder of just how powerful our words can be. I want my words to be intentional. What about you?
How will relationships grow and deepen as you learn to be intentional with your words?
This is part of the Learn to Be Instead of Do series.