Stoking The Fire of our Motivation April 24, 2008

Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed by the weight of our responsibility when it comes to pursuing Redemptive Speech?  Then, I have good news for you this morning; “Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE sinners, of whom I’m the foremost!”  1 Timothy 1:15 (emphasis added).

I sense the Lord reminding me this morning that I have neglected preaching the Gospel to myself each day, which leads to the weight I bear.  Quoting again from Jerry Bridges’ new book, Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate, he says:

“The assurance that God no longer counts my sin against me does two things.  First it assures me that God is for me, not against me (see Romans 8:31).  I am not alone in this battle with sin.  God is not watching me from His heavenly throne saying, “When are you going to get your act together?  When are you going to deal with that sin?”  Rather, He is, as it were, coming alongside me saying, “We are going to work on that sin, but meanwhile I want you to know that I no longer count it against you.”  God is no longer my Judge; He is now my heavenly Father, who loves me with a self generated, infinite love, even in the face of my sin.  That assurance greatly encourages me and motivates me to deal with the sin.

“Further, the  assurance that God no longer counts my sin against me, and that in my struggles with sin, He is for me, produces within me a strong sense of gratitude for what He has done and is presently doing for me through Christ.

“This twofold effect of encouragement and gratitude together produce in us a desire to deal with our sin.  Make no mistake: Dealing with our sin is not an option.  We are commanded to put sin to death.  It is our duty to do so.  But duty without desire soon produces drudgery.  And it is the truth of the gospel, reaffirmed in our hearts daily that puts desire into our duty.  It is the gospel that stokes the fire of our motivation to deal with our respectable and subtle sins.  It is the gospel that motivates us to seek to be in our daily experience what we are in our standing before God.”

Are you feeling “drudgery”?  Then, it is the gospel you need that will transform your drudgery into desire!  May we all begin this day with the Gospel declaring this truth to our hearts:

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”  Romans 4:7-8

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Probing Questions to Consider April 22, 2008

As we continue to talk about redemptive speech and especially how it affects our families, I was reminded by these excerpts in Jerry Bridges’ new book, Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins we Tolerate:

“Outside the home we are apt to be on our best behavior and act as we know we should. But in the home we tend to put aside those artificial restraints that are not part of our true character.”

“We tend to exhibit many sins most freely in the context of our own families.”

“Parents can become impatient over the slow response to the training of children and teenagers. ‘How many times have I told you not to leave your shoes in the family room?’ Or, ‘When are you going to learn to chew your food with your mouth closed?’ These kinds of slow responses to our training can often lead us to be impatient. Obviously the type of impatient expressions I’ve used as illustrations do not further our training efforts. They serve only to vent our impatience and humiliate the child.”

Over the years the Lord has graciously brought such penetrating truths into my life, forcing me to ask myself questions like this:

• Do I speak to my husband and children differently behind the closed doors of our home than when people are around?

• Could my children be tempted to resentment or hurtful perplexity because I speak to their friends with more patience and gentleness for things about which I am harsh or exacting with them?

• What kind of example am I setting for my daughters in the way I speak to and about my husband in the normal course of every day life? Will their future husbands reap the consequences or benefit from this example?

• Have I arrogantly sought to use forceful speech (anger, harshness, impatience, sarcasm, criticism) to wrestle change out of my husband or children rather than humbly trusting God as the only one who can change them (or me!)?

It’s been helpful and humbling to ask my family to help me answer these questions…not just once but several times over the years.

I think I’m overdue to revisit these questions with them. Perhaps you can join me. If your children are too young to be helpful, your husband and a wise friend would be a great resource.

Jesus, please help me to see if I have been putting aside “those artificial restraints that are not part of my true character” by treating my family differently when others are not around. I want to be a genuine Christian, not a hypocrite. Please give me eyes to see how I need to change and thank you for the power the cross provides me to put to death my sinful habits and become more like You!

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The Power of Words April 21, 2008

Wow.  I have benefited so much from the humility and wisdom I read about last week in all the posts.  And the ladies who posted are all my friends – which makes it even more meaningful.  Their teachable hearts and affection for truth both inspires and convicts me.  As a group, we have been reading the same articles and this week I will continue to share from them as we continue our series on redemptive speech.

But first a confession…

By nature I am a critical person who too often sees the proverbial glass half empty rather than half full.  God mercifully brought some people into my life some years ago who not only taught me about the importance of redemptive speech (we didn’t know what to call it then), but who also demonstrated to me how to do it!  Their eagerness to both look for things to encourage and to correct with grace was used by God to open the door to change.  Even though God has brought about progress in my life in this area, I still battle the pride and self-righteousness that causes sinful attitudes in my heart to come out of my mouth.  How quickly I forget that words have the power for life or for death. 

Like last week when I made a sarcastic comment to my husband the day before he was leaving for an out-of-state conference!  My timing was not only insensitive but also selfish.  I was “bummed out” (if you haven’t read Debi’s post from last week, please do!) at a perceived pattern of insensitivity in him, so I reacted.  The comment was out of my mouth before I even knew it. 

First I wished I hadn’t said it.  Then too quickly I wanted to blame him for my quip.  My heart was pulled between the desire to repent and the arrogant craving for vindication.  My speech wasn’t the biggest problem…because as we’ve learned, sinful speech springs from a sinful heart.

Lord, please help me to more clearly see the connection between the words of my mouth and the sins in my heart.  Help me to stop blaming anyone or anything for choosing to speak proud, selfish and sarcastic words.  Without Your help I am hopeless.  But because of the Cross I am full of confidence in Your power to change me.  Thank you, Lord!

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One of My Favorite Places April 18, 2008

Okay, yesterday I left you wondering just where one of my favorite places is. If you are joining us for the first time in a while, this post is part three of a three part look at an article from the Journal of Biblical Counseling titled Watch Your Language, by E. Bradley Beevers. Please read the first and second post before reading the conclusion below. It really will serve you so much better if you do. It’s kind of like reading the end of the novel first; It spoils everything, and you never know what you missed! Click HERE for the first and HERE for the second.

Just where is the favorite place I promised we’d visit today? It’s the book of Psalms! The author takes us there as he concludes his point on the term “I’m Bummed”:

“Doesn’t the Bible speak of these “bummed out” emotions with primary reference to the person, to God, to what is right, rather than simply to the situation? Notice, for example, Psalms 42 and 43. When the Psalmist is “cast down” and “disturbed,” it is not because he no longer goes with the throng to the house of God. It is not because he is taunted by his enemies, by deceitful and unjust men. These things are happening. But the cause of his distress is that his soul does not hope in God. He wouldn’t describe himself as “being bummed.” He sees it more clearly: “Why are you downcast, O my soul?…Put your hope in God.” The focus of the Psalm is that he thirsts for God as a deer longs for flowing streams.

“How different is this picture from the blame-shifting and self-pitying of worldly speech! The Psalmist’s vocabulary indicates that he studies his heart carefully; he figures out the true problem and looks to God for a solution. This is the goal for your own vocabulary!”

Who knew that the simple term “I’m bummed” could have such a huge meaning, or should I say, lack of meaning? I hope this will help you as it has helped me to really listen to what I say and be like the Psalmist who ’studies his heart carefully’.

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Let’s Examine “I’m Bummed” Further April 17, 2008

Yesterday we posted an excerpt from an excellent article found in the Journal of Biblical Counseling. If you didn’t read it, you might want to do that before continuing with today’s post. You’ll find it HERE!

Let’s continue.

In speaking about the term “I’m Bummed”, the author examines it further:

“Notice some other things about this term. First, it’s vague; the emotion described could be many things — depression, anger, hopelessness, sorrow, grief, resentment, conviction, self-pity. Second, the explanation for why we feel this way is inadequate. The focus is almost exclusively on the situation; no attention is given to other inward thoughts or states that lead us to be bummed. We might diagram it thus: Situation > Emotion. The crucial middle term is omitted: Situation > Person > Emotion. This is neutralization again! By omitting the “person” term, it makes no difference whether the situation happens to a believer or an unbeliever; to Jesus Himself or the worst sinner. Right and wrong cease to be categories that we think about. This is not nearly as true with the more specific terms listed above. When a person says he is grieving over his father’s death, we know he is sad because he has experienced a loss; The reaction is good. If he said he was hopeless, depressed, or self-pitying over this death, we should have a different response! Specific terms give us crucial information about the person. We know better how to respond and bring biblical perspective. The world misses this completely. When someone is “bummed,” they can offer only contentless sympathy and a powerless “hope-so” for improved circumstances. There is no hope of real life change, no way it can be better next time.”

How many times when someone has told me that they were bummed because of such and such a situation, I listened and offered a lame, “I hope tomorrow’s better!” response. And I had no idea that this was missing a rich opportunity for biblical fellowship. Or worse, how often I have allowed myself to be bummed about something and missed a great opportunity to repent of unbiblical thinking.

Tomorrow we’ll take a final look at this article as the author takes us to one of my favorite places! Where? You’ll have to come back to find out!

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An Example to Work On… April 16, 2008

As Mothers most of us when asked to examine our speech, immediately think of the times we have been impatient and harsh with our children. However, redemptive speech is so much more than controlling the anger we have towards our children. It starts with how we think and then, how we process those thoughts.

I recently read an article titled, “Watch Your Language”, from the Journal of Biblical Counseling that was written by E. Bradley Beevers. In it he provides a practical example for us to work on. Maybe you, like me, will be surprised at how often you have excused this type of speech:

“How can you start to recognize and repent of evil talk? Start with small steps. Let’s take a specific example to work on. Should Christians use the term “I’m bummed?” Being “bummed” is a neutered way of expressing sadness or depression. It probably could often be translated as lacking in hope and faith, or focusing on unpleasant situations rather than on God’s sovereign care, or grumbling. “I’m bummed” takes away any indication that there is a moral problem with this emotion. Most of us would be pretty surprised if a friend told us we should repent when we shared that we were “bummed out”! In the popular conception we don’t get bummed because there is something wrong with us. We just are. Something’s wrong with the situation; we’re responding normally. That goes for all of us when we talk to people who are “bummed.” We usually ask, “What happened?,” more than we ask, “Why are you handling what happened that way?”

I have often allowed myself to be “bummed out” for days without a thought that this is the open door for sin to take root in my heart! Let’s honestly examine our hearts and see where we open the door for sin to grow. Tomorrow we’ll continue with the next portion of this article!

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A Broken Record April 15, 2008

Last week I sounded like a broken record…

“Stop it.”

“Please stop doing that.”

“Can you please stop?”

“How old are you?”

“Stop taking things away from your brother/sister.”

“Would you stop that, please?”

“Leave him alone!”

Each time I spoke the volume and pitch would raise just a tad until I would give up in total frustration. Ever have days like this? I really was not accomplishing anything. I had forgotten that “Speaking redemptively is refusing to let our talk be driven by passion and personal desire but communicating instead with God’s purposes in view. ” Paul David Tripp

Those commands came from a heart that was more focused on my purposes for the day. My plans, my agenda, my craving for peace. I was not serving or training my children, I was serving myself. The Holy Spirit convicted me that I had lost sight of God’s purpose in those situations. To take the time to show all of my children how to love and prefer each other. I had to sit all three of them down, even my two year old and confess that I was not speaking to them in the loving way that God had asked me to. I had to ask their forgiveness for not being loving with my words and attitudes, for being angry, and for not training them in the way of the Lord.

It took me a long time to make dinner that night. Instead of hollering from the kitchen, “Stop it!” I had to walk into their room, sit down and speak redemptively. Ask questions like, “Sweetheart, are you pursuing love towards your sister and promoting peace right now?” or “Do you think your words are building your brother up or tearing him down?” I am so grateful to see the Holy Spirit at work in all of us.

Have their been times recently where you see your speech towards your children driven by what is irritating you at the moment? Are you more quick to correct (even harshly at times) when they are inconveniencing you? Is your desire when you are correcting them that they would be drawn closer God?

Lord God, You are so kind and so faithful to ever so patiently, time and time again, reveal our sin to us. Lord, I pray that You help us to breathe grace to our children. To be grieved more over their sin against You then anything they would do to offend us at times. I pray that we would yield to Your purposes and work in their lives, and I pray that You would use us in a way that shows an example of the Gospel at work.  May the words that we speak be pleasing and acceptable to You today.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Speaking Redemptively April 14, 2008

Speaking Redemptively, what does that mean? I recently read an article by Paul David Tripp in the Journal of Biblical Counseling, titled “Speaking Redemptively.” Since that time, I have been thinking of what that means to me and also becoming more aware of how often I am not speaking redemptively.

Tripp states that, “Speaking redemptively is all about choosing our words carefully. It is not just about the words we say, but also about the words we have chosen not to say. Speaking redemptively is about being prepared to say the right thing at the right moment and exercising self-control. Speaking redemptively is refusing to let our talk be driven by passion and personal desire but communicating instead with God’s purposes in view. It is exercising the faith needed to be part of what God is doing at that moment.”

So, the other night when I made a choice to bring something up to my husband at what I knew was the wrong time, because I wanted to make my point – I was not speaking redemptively. When I corrected my daughter for not cleaning up the first time I asked her to and did it in a harsh way – again, this was not redemptive speech. And when I became angry with my son for being disrespectful in a way that showed my concern was about me and not God’s purposes in his life once more – not redemptive speech.

As you can see, this is a big deal in my life. The Lord has really been speaking to me on this issue all year. I am slowly beginning to see how much of the time my speech does not honor the Lord. My deep desire is to change, and I have faith that He will continue to help me.

Tripp also stated that, “It (gentle talk) comes from the person who is speaking not because of what he wants from you, but what he wants for you.” How often this is not the case for me.

Oh Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you. Let my speech be gentle and let it honor you in all ways. Teach me to speak redemptively and show me when I am not.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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