“We need to speak words of affection. . . . What comes out of your mouth is a reflection of what’s gone into your heart. So, if you struggle to speak loving words of affection, focus on ingesting the loving words of affection God has spoken to you.”- Kyle Idleman
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”- Luke 6:45 (NIV)
Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 8 of One At a Time with four kinds of words we should say that speak life.
1. Speak words of affirmation. Because everything we way either tears down or builds up, we need to choose words that build up. And if you do that consistently, you’ll see people start to live up to what you see in them. Furthermore, they’ll live up to what you speak to them.
2. Speak words of affection. God speaks words of affection to us. Therefore, we need to speak words of affection to each other. God uses words of affection to assure us there’s nothing we can do to make God stop loving us.
3. Speak words that point people to God. Pastor Idleman loves how, when people questioned John the Baptist about who he was or tried to give him credit, he pointed to Jesus. Hence, you’ll receive more compliments as your life looks more like Jesus’s.
4. Speak words to God about people. Certainly, to have a godly effect on people, we need God’s help. Above all, Pastor Idleman underscores, we must pray for and about the people God puts in our lives. In addition, ask someone if you could pray for them or with them. As a result, ponder this: What kind of impression would your question make?
Finally, at the end of the day, think about who your encouraged or built up that day. Or how you used your words to speak life.
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you speak words of affection and affirmation? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Their point of deepest need”
