Latest / Prayer Before Work / S01E24 - WORDS & THE TONGUE "What You Say When They're Not in the Room"
Transcript
- Sean Graver: Welcome to Prayer Before Work. I'm your prayer partner, Shawn, and I'm glad you're starting your day here. So before the conversations of today begin, let's bring our words to God first. So clear away the distractions and we'll get started. Let's look at Ephesians 4.29, which reads, Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen. So two things here. First, no unwholesome talk. But Paul doesn't stop there because he knows avoiding the negative isn't enough. He adds the positive standard. Say what builds people up and what meets their needs and what actually benefits the people in earshot. Now that's a high bar for a Tuesday morning, isn't it? You know, the easiest place to fail this verse at work isn't in a confrontation. It's more in the casual conversation, the sidebar after the meeting or the venting session at lunch. The group chat that starts with a legitimate frustration and ends up somewhere that nobody intended. You know, what you say about people when they're not in the room matters. It shapes how you see them. ⁓ It shapes the culture around the whole team because cultures aren't built by policies. They're built by all the small conversations that happen every day. So here's a simple test for today. Before you say anything about someone who isn't there, ask yourself, would I say this if they were standing right here? And if the answer is no, well, that's the answer. Well, God, I want my words today to build people up, not tear them down and not just staying neutral, but actually build. Help me remember that no matter how I perceive myself, the words I say matter because other people hear them. Help me to pause before I speak, especially when I'm frustrated or especially when someone isn't there to defend themselves and give me the discipline to say less when less is better and the courage. to say the right thing when it's needed. Let my words today be a reflection of what I actually believe about people, the people I work with, that they're made in your image, that they matter, and that they deserve to be spoken of with dignity. Just guard my mouth today. I pray in Jesus' amen. Now, go make today count.