Looking at Our Words and Thoughts with "Critical" Eyes

I'm off to critique group. For you non-writers out there, that's a meeting of fellow-writers who look at each others' work and comment on it. We consider things like punctuation and grammar. But, more importantly, we attempt to help one another strengthen the piece. Does it resonate with the reader? Is truth being presented in love? Does it "flow"? We look at our words with "critical" eyes.

Perhaps that's what the psalmist had in mind when he said:

"May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

~Psalm 19:14

Sometimes we pay little attention to the words we speak or to the things we think about. Yet, our words are perhaps more powerful than sticks and stones that break others' bones--words wound the heart. And as for our thoughts, they lead to actions whether good or bad.

That's why it's essential for us to think before we speak and to guard the walls of our heart against evil thoughts.

Let's look at our words and thoughts with "critical" eyes.

Communication

Today being National Honesty Day, let's consider how we communicate.

Proverbs 30 has much to say about good and bad communication. For example:

"Every word of God is pure" (verse 5)

"Remove falsehood and lies far from me" (verse 8)

"Do not malign a servant to his master,

lest he curse you, and you be found guilty" (verse 10)

"If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,

or if you have devised evil, put your hand on your mouth" (verse 32)

If every word of God is pure, then we as His children should strive for purity of speech. We should remove falsehood and lies far from our tongues--and if we need help, God is happy to oblige! 

We should not be involved in slander. But if we are called to testify against evil, we should do so with integrity and honesty--and purity of heart.

We should be careful not to exalt ourselves. Rather we should let God, who sees all things, honor us in His own time as He sees fit.

When it comes to communication, the bottom line is this from Psalm 19:14: May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in God's sight for He is our strength and our Redeemer.