Ok so, I am back in the classroom! This week has been fun. I really missed my babies. I’ve missed seeing their smiles, listening to their stories, and laughing at their bad jokes. However, this week was different for me. I find myself watching my words very closely as well as watching the words of others, including the staff and students. I am paying attention to the words that give life, those that stem from ignorance, and those that stem from hate that leads to death. The death of someone’s joy, peace, confidence, etc.  I have paid attention to how often I say where is your mask, pull that mask over your nose, wash your hands, and more. But mostly I pay attention to the words that have the power to influence a child’s life whether positively for negatively. 

I believe this was heighten for me the other day. I heard a bad joke from someone that was completely out of line for the environment we were in. I immediately felt compelled to express the power of the tongue. I shared with this person that our words have power. We can either use words for good or for evil. Yet, the more I thought on this I realized that my answer to this person should have been that our words should conform to the word of God. I say this because I have learned people can say all the right things yet, harbor violent and evil in their hearts.  In order for our words to conform to Gods word we must know His word. To know His word is to know Him. When we seek to have His words on our lips they must first be in our hearts. 

I read Ezekiel 30, which is about the Lord weakening the Egyptian army because of their arrogance and pride and strengthening the Babylonian army to destroy the Egyptians. Though this chapter is full of great knowledge I am seeking God for more understanding. However., one of the things I did take from this passage is that nine times Ezekiel reminds us that, “this is what the Lord says.” Ezekiel’s words were not His own. He was saying what the Lord wanted him to say. What this means for me is that he spent time in the presence of God, long enough to hear what needed to be said. He also only said what God instructed him to say. So for me, I am thinking on the words that I say and the words that I am paying attention to, are they Gods words or my own? 

Questions: 

Do you pay attention to your words?

Do you spend time in the presence of God to hear the things you should or should not say?