SAY IT LOUD, SAY IT CLEAR
By: Carla Ives, A Word Aptly Written (http://www.awordaptlywritten.com)
God spoke the world into existence. He didn’t just think about it. He didn’t meditate on it. He didn’t channel someone else’s thoughts about it. Genesis 1:3 says, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (NIV) God “said.” Said implies speech, speaking out loud to someone. Who was there to hear it? The angels and the void that was the earth, I assume. People have pondered for eons the value of a sound when there is no one there to hear it. Yet, God thought it was important enough to speak the creation, not just wave His hand or wiggle His nose. Does that give you at least some idea of why the spoken word is so important or why your spoken words are so important?
Oh, I hear you now. . . “Come on, Carla, that’s God. Remember me? I’m a worm down here. My words aren’t important.” Oh, no? Think about it. Every word out of your mouth communicates something to someone, like it or not. What was your very first word? I’m betting it was a big, loud N-O!!!! If you have kids, you’ll know this is a pretty safe bet. Did that communicate? Was that word important? Ask your mother and your bottom if it was.
What do you do with words on a daily basis? You teach your kids, for one thing. You say, “Oh, my kids go to school. I don’t teach them.” Sure, you don’t. Like when you tell them to say you’re not here when the phone rings and the caller ID says it’s someone you don’t want to talk to. How about when you tell them that God doesn’t matter. “What???, you say. I would NEVER teach my kids God doesn’t matter.” How about last Sunday morning when you told them it was okay to stay in bed, they didn’t have to go to church if they didn’t feel like it? What did that say to them, teach them, speak to their hearts?
Now, of course, you teach your kids good things, too, like brush your teeth, say your prayers, please don’t smack your little brother even though he richly deserves it. For the first few years of their lives, it’s your words that teach your children how to live. If you look at a two-year-old and think, “Brush your teeth,” and expect him to do it, you’re in for a big surprise. No, you have to TELL them to do things. Speak it out loud. They can’t read your mind, especially at a young, tender age. And you have to TELL them over and over and over again until they learn. The old Crosby, Stills & Nash song says, “Teach your children well.” Good advice because you WILL teach them, one way or the other.
If you need more proof of how important the spoken word is, how did you get saved? Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Didn’t you confess Jesus “with your mouth” the day you came to Him? Okay, okay. Maybe some of you prayed that prayer in private. Did He hear you? Yes, I’m sure He did. Have you said anything positive about Jesus since that time? Guess what? You’ve confessed “with your mouth.” Merriam-Webster defines confess as “to tell or make known.” When you “tell” something, you make it known by speaking it to someone. Now please don’t come back at me with you can e-mail them and tell them that way and that isn’t speaking. Well, it is. . . in a manner of speaking. (Yes, irony intended!) You know what I mean. Even if you prayed your salvation prayer silently in private, you TOLD Jesus you surrendered to him and gave him your life. Did you run to church and say, “Hey, I’m now SAVED!!!!” Guess what? You confessed with your mouth!
God thought creation was important enough to speak it into existence. He thinks YOU are important enough to speak to your heart. You think your children are important enough to speak your beliefs and morals into them. So what’s important here? TO SPEAK!
Now that you know the importance of the spoken word, wouldn’t life be easier if you spoke your precious words correctly, the first time, not having to apologize and give it another go? Go down the margin of this blog and look at all the ways Art of Eloquence has to help you “Say What You Mean.” There are studies for everyone from preschoolers to adults in everyday life. Need help with the “God stuff?” There is Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith. This inspired book will teach you how to share God’s word in love and with grace to anyone, using a series of everyday questions that are asked of Christians.
When you truly “Say What You Mean,” thoughts become clearer, your children become more obedient and life just becomes easier! Life is too precious to waste one more moment being misunderstood. God SPOKE the world into existence. The Bible says we are made in His image. If God thought we were that important as to SPEAK creation into existence and us into life, can we do otherwise? No, we can’t create a world, but we can follow His example and learn to SPEAK.
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Carla Ives is the Founding Editor of A Word Aptly Written, an inspired editing and writing service that lets YOU shine through! She can be found on Facebook and Twitter and every Thursday morning at 11AM EST/8AM PST as co-host of the Grace Talk Soup Podcast, boldly serving up God’s Word with a side order of grace and humor! Carla also portrays Ethel the Editor to JoJo Tabares’s Lucy Linguist on the immensely popular segment, “I Love Language.”
