Focus

Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.

Read

Ephesians 4:29-32 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is a need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Reflect

How many times in our lives have we heard the adage, “if don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all?” This not only applies to the words we speak, but the words we type as we interact with folks on social media. It’s so easy to be bold behind the keyboard when people can’t see us! Racism, misogyny, homophobia, and a host of other hateful things, spew from the fingers of people who profess to be Christian. If we wouldn’t say these things to someone in person, we should definitely not share them on social media. And, if we can’t picture Jesus saying these things, we certainly shouldn’t say anything at all. When we profess to be followers of Christ, we show people with our words, as well as our physical actions.

Pray

Holy One, thank you for loving us. Help us to remember that once our words are spoken, verbally or written, we can’t take them back. Help us to be mindful of what we say and write to our fellow humans. We want to glorify you by uplifting others, not tearing them down. In the name of the one who sacrificed for us, Amen.

Go with God!