THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. - Philippians 4:8

A recent survey revealed that teenagers are now spending an average of seven and a half hours per day involved in multiple forms of electronic media, including, TV, video games, listening to music, surfing the Web, testing, and e-mailing.

Those things are not bad. But we can be so current on culture yet so out of touch with Scripture. So let's make sure that our minds and hearts are filled with the truths of God.

Romans 12:1 tells us to "give our bodies to God because of all He has done for us. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice —the kind He will find acceptable."

Giving our bodies to God also includes our tongues — our words and what we say to others.

As James 3:5 points out, "The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire."

I would suggest that you T-H-I-N-K before you speak. The next time you have something to say but are not sure if you really ought to say it, run through the T-H-I-N-K acronym:

T — is it true?

H = is it helpful?

I — is it inspiring?

N — is it necessary?

K — is it kind?

Maybe you're thinking, 'If I lived by that principle, I wouldn't say anything ever again.' So be it.

Present your tongue to God. Not only that, we need to present our hands and feet to Him as well.

Proverbs 6:17-19 says there are seven things that God detests: "haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family."

So dedicate your hands and your feet and your tongue to God.

Prayer: Lord, I dedicate my heart, my hands, my feet, and my tongue to You.

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:2-9