Time to Shine with Passion

Hello, friends and welcome back to Strengthen Your Walk. I’m Kim Crabill and I’m so delighted to have you joining us today. As we continue our Time to Shine series, I suspect we’ve all found ourselves in the darkness of misused or misunderstood words. Perhaps it was a situation where the right words eluded us or we didn’t know what to say at all. And then there are those horrible times when we say the wrong thing and make matters worse.

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Do you know what I’m talking about? In times like this how can we be that one spark in the dark that we talked about yesterday? Well, I believe the apostle Paul must’ve known exactly the dilemma we would be facing as he wrote these wise words to one of the early churches: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may be beneficial to those who listen.”

That’s found in Ephesians 4:29. I see three things there for knowing what to say and how to shine. First, Paul says we should ban all unwholesome words. Such words are negative and condescending, and we just don’t need them. They put people down. Secondly, we should select only helpful and encouraging words that build people up. And finally, Paul says we should use words that address the listener’s needs.

In this fast-paced, drive-through, hurry-up world in which we live, we are often tempted to blurt out a quick-lib comment and just move on. Isn’t it true? But Paul suggests we slow down, get to know the needs of those who God puts along our path. Ask questions. Show genuine interest. Not only will the person you’re talking to be built up, but those who overhear your words will benefit as well.

Now, let’s make this personal for just a minute. Think about a time when someone delivered a word to you just when you needed it most. Perhaps they were words of comfort, patience, forgiveness, or affirmation. Didn’t it seem like God himself was showing you that He had seen your deepest need and that He cares?

Today, we can ask Him to show us someone with a hidden wound or hurt who needs immediate comforting or building up. Then we can pray for the right words to shine God’s hope and love on that person.

Friends, there is nothing better than being used to help someone remember who they are and how much they matter. God has chosen you and I to do just that. So, who’s ready? It’s time to shine. Thank you for joining me today. I hope that these words will help strengthen your walk.

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