Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
DehydratedI have been lifting weights for one month now and am beginning to feel stronger. Yesterday was lifting day and we were working on shoulders and triceps. Most days I am increasing the amount of weight I lift from the last time, but yesterday I struggled to lift as much as I did the time before. So much for feeling strong.
My lifting partner asked if I was feeling well and then he asked me how much water I drank. I replied I had one glass at breakfast and one glass at lunch. “No wonder you feel weak,” he said, “your muscles are mostly water and if you are dehydrated you cannot lift as much.” I had no idea water would help me lift.
It is the same way with prayer. We pray at meals and perhaps a few minutes after a devotional if we squeeze one in today, but that is not nearly enough to keep us spiritually hydrated. Paul recommended being devoted to prayer 24/7. Pray without ceasing. Drink up the Spirit of God by being drenched in payer all day. Constantly communicating with God makes it possible to live wisely among people who see life differently than we do. It also keeps us strong when the enemy comes against us with doubt, fear, anger or any other weapon.
Spirit of God, flood me with the water of life today as I open myself to your voice all day. I want to listen to your Word and share my thoughts of thanksgiving, praise, and concern with you today. Thank you for helping me to be strong in the LORD today. - Dan Jones
I’m all talkI’m a talker. While I like to get off by myself and sink into silence on occasion, I need conversation. My personality feeds on social interaction. But I think the need to talk is common to everyone, whether or not we are avid conversationalists. We’re wired to talk to somebody at least sometimes. And thus the power of the waging tongue. (And the proliferation of cell phones!)
These verses encourage talking, the best kind. Talking to God is an ongoing conversation. If people can browse down a grocery story isle chattering to an invisible other through an appendage growing out the ear – or for that matter, in the next bathroom stall – then speaking to an invisible God in those same places isn’t so strange.
The Bible warns us about gossip, talking to people about other people in harmful ways. Let’s be honest. The drive to talk leads most of us to say things about others that really should be left unsaid. I think, talking to God about anyone and anything (gossiping to God?) can help satisfy the need to talk about the people in our lives. Such conversation offers the opportunity to ask God to provide for them.
Paul encourages healthy conversation with those outside the faith. Perhaps if we take care of the need to talk about people in conversation with God, our conversation with those who do not believe will be more attractive. Ordinary and healthy talk can open opportunity to share about our faith. So talk on.
Eternal God, thanks for sending the Word into my world to talk words like the Sermon on the Mount. Thanks for the gift of speech. Help me to reflect Jesus’ use of speech this week. - Mike Leamon
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