Ephesians 4: 29

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

the first thing that God cleaned up in me was my swearing/cuss words... yet there are many others who are in Christ or at least in the church.. that never cuss in public.. but certainly cuss plenty in private... and I couldn't understand why God felt this was an issue for me but not for so many others.. I still don't understand it really...

let everything you say be good and helpful.. that has more to do with our thoughts than cussing.. if our thoughts are dark.. we speak dark.. if our thoughts are light.. we speak light... meaning positive and negative.. so if we are always speaking negatively and condemnation of self or of others.. then our thoughts are not as they should be.. because out of the heart flows the words of our mouths...

hmmm.. I guess that would also mean.. if we are doubtful or untrusting.. even of God.. that doesn't really come from our words... although that is how is is revealed.. it comes flowing from our heart.. I would say even with me.. I was very sure of God.. very trusting.. until it seems to take forever.. then doubtful and unsure words seem to come from my mouth... which is actually coming from my heart.. these are seeds that I have allowed to take root and now I have to weed them out and burn them... I was thinking maybe I never heard from God at all.. or maybe I have deceived myself.. or maybe I am not that special to God afterall... all of these seeds had taken root... yesterday God said to me that I allow the actions of man (people) to cause me to doubt what He has said... and in truth.. that is meaning that even originally.. my trust had been in the actions of people and not the words God said..

our words should be an encouragement to all who hear them.. are we really that encouraging? or is it just that we want to imagine we are? do we complain? surely complaining around people would not be encouraging them... do we get irritated and talk in a way that is not encouraging? think even about the menial parts of your day.. the cooking dinner... are you complaining? or the going to work? if we instead realized how many people.. normal people just like us.. don't have food for dinner.. don't have a job to go to.. if we thought positive instead of always thinking of our own comfort.. how much of a change would that make in our daily speech?

I know for me there would be quite a lot of change.. and I am set upon starting it today.. not that long ago we did a fast of the tongue.. one day a week for 12hrs we only spoke what was necessary and good.. you find out that you speak way more negativity than you would have imagined.. I think I will go back to this practice.. but not only once a week.. more like daily... maybe I will start out with a few hours and build my way up to a lifelong change...