Friday Fight 33 - Connecting or Commenting?

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF33.

How many of us know people who prefer to communicate non-verbally? Surprisingly, I have watched people begin and end a relationship through texting, crazy, right? Yet, far too often, we speak the most using avenues that share our hearts the least. How has being desensitized to Godly communication impacted our lives?

Connecting or Commenting?

Our tongue is the most powerful tool we have to help others and bring change. The book of James references the tongue as a small body part yet holding incredible power. We can use our words to restore others or speak in ways that destroy them.

Recall a time when you listened to one person diminishing another. It's a sad realization that this person dislikes themselves or likely carries bitterness. After all, the tongue reveals the heart. So, when communicating, think about the difference between connecting (allowing others to see our hearts) vs commenting (forcing others to hear our opinions). How would our culture change if we focused more on connecting than commenting?

How does darkness work? Bitterness in the heart will always contaminate the tongue. A destructive tongue spews harsh words using negative tones devaluing others. Darkness wants us to diminish others with our words to dishonor and bring shame. When we do, it removes the thankfulness we have for others. Words can deeply wound, define people, and leave scars. Without healing in our hearts, the tongue's tone will never change.

How do we fight?

Focus on talking to people, not at people. One brings life, and the other brings death. Speaking and listening will destroy painful barriers and offer clarity. Talking at people uses harsh tones to convey and inflicts our pain onto others. Try to focus on communicating by pausing but not pushing. Pausing to listen allows healing words to be absorbed. In addition, we display our care for the care of others. But pushing a conversation bombards it with our feelings and opinions. Speaking encouragement will breathe life, joy, and restoration into another's soul.

Pastor Shannon

New Life Calvert