A Respectful

Conversation

OUR WORDS CAN…Hurt

DiscourageBring sadness

Be inappropriateIsolate

MisleadBe idle (useless)

ComfortEncourageBring joyBe pureUnite Inspire

Be helpful

What should our words be like?“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

“ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

How can I control my words better?

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34)

- when I don’t have anything good to say.

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”(Proverbs 10:19)

SILENCE CAN BE GOOD SOMETIMES

“let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;” (James 1:19)

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is with you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4)

“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,” (Psalm 141 :3-4)

(Psalm 140 in the Compline hour)

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS IN US

“A soft answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1)

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)

VERSE OF THE DAY

To Practice

• This week, we should be very aware of every word we say. Write down any words that we used that we shouldn’t have, or any bad reactions we had in a conversation.

– This can help us keep them in mind and try to not say them again the next day.

• We should ask the Holy Spirit to help us say every right and good word, and stop saying idle words.

• We should keep in mind that words can hurt and bring down, the other person could still be hurt even if we apologize and they forgive us. That’s why it’s better not to say the bad words in the first place.

• We should try to keep our thoughts constantly on God, so that our hearts remain pure and this way our words will also remain pure.