HELP ME, LORD!


 

Not always, but sometimes I simply talk too much!
Help me to bring encouraging, edifying words,
Instead of words of criticism and condemnation.
Help me to speak words of love and affection
Instead of vain flattery and ego boosting.
Help me to have open,
loving and honest conversation

Instead of taking perverse delight
in self-righteous confrontation.

Help me to utter words of caring and concern,
Instead of something trite and superficial.
Let me flow forth rivers of refreshing water
Instead of spewing gravel and irritating sand.
Let me always speak truth,
Instead of giving
a one-sided perspective and half-truths

Let me be quick to speak comfort
Instead of keeping sanctimonious silence.
Where there are hurt feelings and pain
Let me bring healing words and affirmation
Where I want to vigorously defend myself
Let me realize that hearing the other side
is always the wiser choice.

Keep me from carelessly sowing seeds of strife
Where I should mind my own business.
Keep me from pronouncing judgment on another,
And reserve my opinion until all the facts are in,
And even then be gracious, kind and truly forgiving.
Keep me from rashly revealing
my impetuous thoughts and feelings

But rather patiently wait
for a change in the circumstances.

Father, thank you for forgiveness, before I even ask!
If it were not for Christ's perfect sacrifice
on the Cross of Calvary

I would be undone.

"I tell you, on the Day of Judgment
you will have to give an account

For every careless word you utter,
For by your words you will be justified,
And by your words you will be condemned."
Matth. 12:36



Thank you, Father, for your amazing grace.

Karin Ristau

(This was a repost!)

3 comments:

Kimberly Pitman said...

There are a few of those words I'd really like to take back.

Thanks for the reminder of how important our words are. They have all the potential of making someone's day or ruining their life. What power! And we sometimes wield it so carelessly.

Cathryn said...

Another great writing Karin. Bless you, Cathryn

Lady Dorothy said...

"If it were not for Christ's perfect sacrifice
on the Cross of Calvary
I would be undone."

Oh, how grateful I am for God's mercy! What would I be without it?!


As you may have noticed from the lack of posts on my blog, I haven't been in Blogland as much as I'd like. BUT, I just caught up with about 3 weeks of your posts. As was expected, all wonderful. Thank you for your ministry through your blog!