New Year. New Beginnings.

For there is not a word in my tongue,

But, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether

(Psalm 139:4)

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

(Psalm 139: 23-24)

Recently, I made a conscious decision to be more complimentary to people who serve and do their work. One day while having lunch at a local restaurant I had an opportunity to practice. 

It wasn’t difficult to see that our waiter was new at the job. He was meticulous in every detail making sure he was doing everything right. All the while he displayed a look of uncertainty. 

As we were leaving, I complimented him on a job well done. I was amazed at the transformation in the young man’s demeanor and the grace with which he accepted the compliment.  And I was encouraged that a sincere, small gesture of appreciation could have such a positive effect. Affirmation can be a blessing to those who show appreciation as well as those who receive it. 

Throughout scripture we are reminded of the power of our words and the dire warnings of careless and harmful speech.  As children perhaps we heard our parents wisely tell us “if you cant say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Scripture tells us in Proverbs 16:24 that “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

Our words can reflect the spiritual state of our soul. So, may we who know the Lord, ask God, like David, to search us and know our heart, try us, and know our thoughts and see if there are any offensive ways in us.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for the gift of communication. May we be wise in our speech, kind to others and diligent in our spiritual lives. Amen

This devotion was written by Steve Hankal and read by Sally Stovall.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.