Conversations

“Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.”
Colossians 4:6 NLT

I majored in English language studies. Not learning English as a second language. But looking at the history of language, the way people talk, why we use certain words, how men and women communicate, how toddlers/children learn how to talk, communication and conflict. It was bordering on psychology and anthropology, yet also overlapping to communication studies, body language and spacial stuff.
I actually enjoyed my degree, it was interesting. But I honestly don’t think I’m the greatest communicator. Yes I know all about it. But it doesn’t make me great at it.

The interesting thing is, though we may have a hard time communicating with one another, God can still use us to speak (or not speak!) To share stories, to encourage, to witness to, to bond with one another through quality time.
I can kind of relate to Moses, in that Moses had a speech impediment.
Wow! Ansy has a speech impediment?
Only a little! Sometimes I stutter, but it’s nothing someone would consider a huge problem.
I stutter when nervous, only stutter a little. And when I’m really nervous [like when I’ve thought about what to say, and am waiting my turn to share it to the scaryish group] my voice sounds different.
But I liked how God still used Moses to be a leader and to change the history of the Israelite slaves.

Which brings us back to the above verse. It's not how good or bad you are at talking. As long as you glorify God though your words, by default it can be gracious and effective, offering a right answer for everyone. And to glorify God, you need to ask yourselves “Is what I’m saying about ______ glorifying to God?” “Is this edifying?” (edifying meaning to strengthen and encourage each other and building them up).

Recently at a social gathering, a friend had invited a friend to join us. You automatically knew she was a non-believer, by the way she spoke-words of pain and hurt, explicit words, words that would tear someone down, words that innocent children wouldn’t know what it meant, words that would make any mother cover her child’s ears.
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” James 3:10 (NIV)
It can really make a difference when you meet someone who has language that is pleasant, praising, and just gentle without curses. It really makes a different.

Or let’s not get into swearing. Something as basic as gossip can be far from gracious and effective [in the positive sense!]

In my degree we came to a conclusion that communication can tear someone down, or raise them up. Tearing someone down can spiral deeper and deeper, ending up being a continuous cycle into the deep abyss (or something worse, it can end physically dangerous). Whereas when you raise someone up through words-it can have such a massive positive effect.

It’s a good reminder to be on your guard to have decent conversations, seasoned with good flavours, rather than flavours that can knock someone out. KO style.

thanksgiving and praises

Psalm 95:2
"Let us come to Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to Him.”


I challenge you today, to think about things you want to thank God for.
Maybe today was a bad day. Perhaps you can thank God that it didn’t end up too bad.
Maybe today was a good day, easy to find something to thank God for.
Maybe today you said goodbye to someone, in fact we need to thank God for friendship?
Maybe today you had an answered prayer, all the more reason to praise God.
Maybe today someone did a huge favour for you, yay for people helping you.
Or maybe today you were down. All the more reason to be singing to Him, turning the despair into praises.

Whatever day you’ve had, turn it into psalms of praises to God.
It’s a good feeling when one swaps one bad thing and God changes it for good.
It’s a good feeling when one brings a good thing and God makes it even better.

Lifting up praises to God is one thing we were inclined and born to do.
And one thing we will definitely do in heaven.
But here on earth we have a tendency to forget to praise Him, and wallow in despair.

I know I have a tendency to wallow in self pity, and when feeling down you just want to listen to songs that mirror that. It can get so dangerous. Instead, listening to songs that have praising God lyrics can be very beneficial and remind us all of God’s amazing power, love and faithfulness.

In good times and bad times, praise Him.
We spend too much time in our days thinking about the bad negative things, and we forget to thank God for our blessings.
We spend too much time taking credit for things, but really, we need to thank God for all He gives us, or helps us with.

In good times and bad, let’s sing psalms of praise to Him, offering thanksgiving to the One who so freely blesses us abundantly.

Preparing an answer

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

I looked at some other versions to explain the “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord”, as this can be hard to actually understand. Other versions say:

NLT: "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life”

ESV: “but in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy,”

KJV, NKJV, NASB etc, all use the words: “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts”

God’s word translation: “But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord”

And most of the other translations are similar to the ones above.

Interesting, isn’t it?

And the word “Sanctify” in the dictionary is basically, to make holy, purify and make it free from sin, to entitle it with respect and honour that it deserves.

So, in simple modern day terms, we need to put Christ as Lord in our hearts, with respect and honour, free from sin and to honour Him as a holy being.

The second part is simple. 

To be prepared to give an account for what you believe in. 

Explain why you have the hope in Christ.

Being ready to give an answer to their questions as they wonder about what you believe in.

And to do this with gentleness and respect. [there’s more in verse 16 too, go check it out!]

It’s a good verse to be reminded of.

I remember when I had first become a Christian. I remember someone asking me about it, and I can honestly say I didn’t know how to answer. Simply because I wasn’t prepared.

Kind of how at an interview, the interviewer asks you a really really hard question that totally throws you. Like completely.

And you either don’t know how to answer, or you try and explain [or blab in my case], but you fail to be correct. In verse 16 it does tell us we need to be careful so as to not cause them to speak ill of you.

Which is exactly why, in cases like interviews or someone asking you about your faith -- you need to know your stuff and be prepared to give an answer.

But fear not. With plenty of practises at interviews, or through time, people always ask you about why you believe, you end up knowing what to say, or what not to say. 

But all in all, it certainly does help to have your heart focused on Jesus, as Christ your Lord, as a holy being.

And if that’s the case, you can’t really go wrong!