Get Up With God
highly caffeinated daily bible doses to help start your morning off right

Encourage one another daily.
(Hebrews 3:13a)

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
(Proverbs 16:24)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen.
(Ephesians 4:29)

Times are tough. People are hurting. Ask God to help you encourage as many of your fellow humans as you possibly can today.

It’s GOD @ WORK WEEK here at GUWG, where we’re taking an in-depth look at what the Bible says about the wonderful world of work.

Today’s topic: COMMUNICATION. Almost nothing is more important in the workplace. Here’s what the Bible says . . .

Listen More Than You Talk. “A wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15) “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19) Or, as some around me are fond of saying: “God gave you two ears and one mouth — use ‘em accordingly.”

Don’t Grumble. “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” (Philippians 2:14) Click here for a whole week’s worth of anti-grumbling suggestions.

Spread Encouragement. “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (Proverbs 12:25) “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)

Don’t Spread Gossip. “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.” (Proverbs 20:19) “Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.” (Proverbs 26:20)

Speak the Truth in Love. Always, always, always tell the truth. And always, always, always do it with love. “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)

COMMUNICATE GOD’S WAY

. . . encourage one another daily . . .
(Hebrews 3:13)

How much better would this world be if everyone went around every day looking for ways to encourage one another?

Reach out and encourage someone today. Encourage your spouse. Encourage your kids. Encourage your parents. Encourage your friends. Encourage your co-workers. Encourage your dentist. Encourage your gastroenterologist.

Encourage. Encourage. Encourage. The world needs it. Now.

For a great example of the profound impact one simple little act of encouragement can have, click here.

ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER

Flip open your Bible to the middle and chances are you’ll land in either Psalms or Proverbs. It’s an amazing juxtaposition of books. Psalms is packed with poetry and prayers expressing the heights and depths of human emotion. Flip a few pages and you’re in Proverbs — practical, no-nonsense wisdom for daily living.

Once a week for the next several months, our daily dose will be from one of these two fabulous books. Your heart and brain will thank you.

I could think of no better place to start than Psalm 23. Read it, meditate on it, memorize it, live it.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

WALK WITH GOD

Q: Pound for pound, what’s the most powerful muscle in the human body?

A: The tongue.

I once lost a Trivial Pursuit game because of that question. I even researched it afterward to make sure I hadn’t been cheated out of a win. I found it on Wikipedia (so it must be true).

But I was surprised by something else my Google search revealed. It seems there are zillions of Bible verses warning about the mighty power of that seemingly innocuous pink flap of flesh. Here’s just a sampling:

• “The tongue has the power of life and death.” (Proverbs 18:21)
• “But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8)
• “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19)
• “[T]he tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:5-6)

What did Jesus say about the tongue? “I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)

Yikes. So, what should we do?

Clean Up Our Hearts. Jesus preceded his warning above with these words: “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) We need to let God into our hearts so that He can clean out all the filth and muck we’ve stored up there.

Be Slow to Speak. As my Nana always says: “God gave you two ears and one mouth — use them accordingly.” Or as James says: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19)

When You Speak, Speak Good. As we discussed yesterday, the Holy Spirit appeared as “tongues of fire” when He first came to earth. God wants us to use our tongues to light up the world for good:

• “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” (Proverbs 10:11)
• “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb; sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)
• “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (Proverbs 12:25)
• “The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life . . . a man finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word!” (Proverbs 15:4, 23)

Our words can change the world. Let God fill your heart so that you can speak words of wisdom, love and encouragement to those around you. The world needs it.

USE YOUR TONGUE FOR GOOD

. . . encourage one another daily . . .  Hebrews 3:13

How much better would this world be if everyone went around every day looking for ways to encourage one another?

Look for ways to encourage someone today.  Encourage your spouse.  Encourage your kids.  Encourage your parents.  Encourage your friends.  Encourage your co-workers.  Encourage your neighbors.  Encourage your dentist.  Encourage your gastroenterologist.

Encourage.  Encourage.  Encourage.  The world needs it. Now.

In sum, do this. Don’t do this.

ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER