Talk can be uplifting or talk can bring us low.  Talk can bring life or it can take life from us.  Talk can announce good news or not so good news.  Talk can build sweet, intimate relationships or cause a forever rift and separation.  Talk can be good or talk can be bad.  What we choose to talk about can make a difference in the life of someone else.

Self-talk can be our own worse enemy or our greatest ally.  “Love your neighbor as yourself”, says Jesus.  But what if we don’t have any love for ourselves?  Does that affect how we love others?  Why, yes it does.  This theme is at the heart of Lauren Daigle’s song that has swept over the world and caused believers and seekers alike to stop and think about their own self-talk.

Pause and reflect at the lyrics of “You Say”

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low
Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don’t belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe (I)
Oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh You say… More

At the point of her lowest low, God reminds her of how much He loves her.  His love realized changes everything! 

Let’s pause and think about our talk that stems from the heart.  The more we realize and understand the love Jesus had for us when he went to the cross, the more we begin to love others.  The more we love God back, the more deeply we love each other.  Read that again.  I truly believe that the more I realize God’s love for me is the measure of my love for others. God’s love for me causes me to humbly love what He sees in me.  This realization leads me to loving others like He loves me!  This love, so amazing, is holy, intimate and constantly transforming me and my talk from the inside out.

What is on your mind right now?  Jesus says whatever is in our heart will spill out over our lips.  What do we talk about most from day to day?  Who do we talk about most?  Our talk is definitely a heart issue.  Whoever we love the most will affect our talk.  I am reminded of a chorus we used to sing years ago in my youth;

Let’s talk about Jesus, the King of kings is He,

The Lord of lords supreme, through all eternity. 

The great I AM, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Door, 

Let’s talk about Jesus more and more.

If the love of Jesus is our first thought when we rise in the morning, then He will probably be the center of our talk all day long.

ALL these songs of old and new play in the background of my mind as the Psalmist sings His songs of praise to God!  Sing with me…

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 75, The Message

An Asaph Psalm

75 We thank you, God, we thank you—
    your Name is our favorite word;
    your mighty works are all we talk about.

^2-4 You say, “I’m calling this meeting to order,
    I’m ready to set things right.
When the earth goes topsy-turvy
    And nobody knows which end is up,
I nail it all down,
    I put everything in place again.
I say to the smart alecks, ‘That’s enough,’
    to the bullies, ‘Not so fast.’”

^5-6 Don’t raise your fist against High God.
    Don’t raise your voice against Rock of Ages.
He’s the One from east to west;
    from desert to mountains, he’s the One.

^7-8 God rules: he brings this one down to his knees,
    pulls that one up on her feet.
God has a cup in his hand,
    a bowl of wine, full to the brim.
He draws from it and pours;
    it’s drained to the dregs.
Earth’s wicked ones drink it all,
    drink it down to the last bitter drop!

^9-10 And I’m telling the story of God Eternal,
    singing the praises of Jacob’s God.
The fists of the wicked
    are bloody stumps,
The arms of the righteous
    are lofty green branches.

TRUTH:  Tell the story.  Live the story.  All glory to God for His story in us!

Proverb 24:1-6, The Message

  ^1-2 Don’t envy bad people;
    don’t even want to be around them.
All they think about is causing a disturbance;
    all they talk about is making trouble.

^3-4 It takes wisdom to build a house,
    and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;
It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms
    with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.

^5-6 It’s better to be wise than strong;
    intelligence outranks muscle any day.

WISDOM:  Know God.  Know the Good News of Jesus.  Ask for words of wisdom.  Tell the story of redemption, our firm foundation for life. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy, in Jesus, but to trust and obey.  (Yes, one last song….)

Abba Father,

Great are you, Lord.  You have done great things in my life and in the lives of those around me.  You are still doing great, amazing, unexpected things that are beyond my imagination!  So, I love to tell your story.  I love to talk about you night and day.  You are God and we are not even close.  Nothing is too hard for you.  You never sleep, always at work for our best.  You know what will happen next to challenge us and you have prepared ways for us to overcome before we get there.  Yes, there is no one like you.  Why would I trust in anyone or anything else?  That’s just foolishness.  I love you, Lord with all my heart, mind and soul because you first loved me.  Thank you for loving me the way you do.  Thank you for teaching me to love like you love.  I have not perfected your love but I know your love is perfect in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity
Ooh-oh…