my new year's resolution

May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Something that I have been very aware of lately is the words that I speak...and the thoughts that I think. That may sound really obvious...like...aren't we all aware of the things we speak about and think about on some level?? Yeah, of course, but I've just been more aware of if the words I am speaking out are negative or positive, and then a step deeper...whether the thoughts that go on inside my head are positive or negative. In Mimi Ghormley's language these would be called "words of life" and "words of death."

Things I speak out I am alot more aware of than the thoughts I have(obviously)...because most of us temper what we say according to the people were around. I was convicted the other day after reading this verse that I often am not speaking out "words of life", about people, situations, frustrations, etc. I find it common, especially in Christian circles, that it's easier to talk about people if we preface it with something like, "your the only one I'm really confiding this in" or "I just want you to know so you can pray" or "I'd like to get your wisdom on this situation." I realized that more often than not I don't really need peoples wisdom because I already know what I think and then how the Lord wants me to handle a situation. I'm not saying that I never think it's ok to confide in people or get wisdom in confidence if those are truly your motivations, but they are not always mine.

When I have conversations in which I speak negatively about something or someone I just walk away feeling icky. I don't wan't to be that kind of person. I want to see the best in situations and people. I want to speak life over peoples lives and over my own. The bible says that the power of life and death is in the tongue. I've just decided I need to take that seriously.


Thoughts are an entirely different ballgame. However, I want my thoughts to be pleasing to the Lord as well. I wan't to be really aware of the things that go on inside my head, because they frame the way I see situations and people. For example, I've been dreading going back to Grad School. Sometimes I just don't enjoy reading and taking tests and always working on assignments. Instead I've decided to think positive thoughts and be thankful I can even be in school. This may seem simple, but I think if I apply this verse to my life in these areas, I will not only speak life over peoples lives and my own, but my thoughts will be pleasing to the Lord and will in turn frame my life in his viewpoint.