Ephesians 6:19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel

You might think that someone like Paul would not need to make a prayer request like this, because words were his “stock in trade,” so to speak. However, he wasn’t “hawking his own goods,” but expressing the words of his Lord, and that made all the difference. By this point he had learned, doubtless the hard way, that anything he said entirely on his own was essentially worthless, but that when God spoke through him, anything could happen. That’s a lesson every preacher, in particular, needs to learn! Frank Viola puts it in terms of speaking to the head, to the emotions, or to the heart. The first two are common, and recently, speaking to the emotions seems to be the goal of many. However, it is only words that penetrate to the heart that make a lasting difference, and those need to come from the One who created the heart, and everything else. I think we underestimate our total dependence on God, because we fool ourselves into thinking we are accomplishing things in our own strength and wisdom. Paul was given “a thorn in the flesh” to cure him of that deception, and that was a blessing. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) The higher profile the preacher (or politician, or entertainer, or whatever) the more they need such reminders. We are remarkably adept at fooling ourselves, (James 1:22) and anything that protects us from that is to be welcomed.

I am talking about myself here, because I have always been a person of words. In the 7^th grade I made a higher score on a comprehensive vocabulary test than my English teacher did! However, having a lot of words at my disposal didn’t, and still doesn’t, mean that I necessarily use them correctly from God’s viewpoint. I may be a stickler for grammar, but that’s not what I’m talking about. If I’m not expressing God’s truth in the way He wants it said, then my words are meaningless, chaff that deserves no better than to be blown away by the wind. I have certainly experienced speaking chaff, and I have also experienced speaking the words of God. There’s no question which I want to do! This isn’t to say that I am to be mute until the Spirit moves me, but it is to say that I am constantly to be praying that God would set a guard on my lips to keep me from speaking that which is not of Him. I have seen my words bring blessing, and I have seen them bring pain. I want to be an instrument of blessing! Sometimes, as my father cautioned me at the point I was entering college, my words are to be a scalpel, cutting away undesirable things from people’s hearts, but I must be very careful that they aren’t infected with any trace of envy, pride, or hatred. Like Paul, I want to consistently make known the mysteries of the Gospel, so that people may be set free to repent and believe for their salvation, for the glory of God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the gift for words You have given me. May that gift, and my words, always be used as You intend, defeating the devil and setting people free, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!