Who is speaking through you? Do you believe your words are your own? Have you considered how many times you are repeating or paraphrasing what you heard from others or read elsewhere? Who do you quote or paraphrase most often? Is it important?
Few of us have an original thought or idea, which makes it near impossible to speak something that has not previously been spoken. We repeat what we see and hear on the news. We repeat what our parents taught us. We repeat what we were taught in school. We quote what we have read.
Do not mistake the repeating or paraphrasing as being bad. Depending on who we are quoting, it can be very good. We choose who we will repeat or paraphrase. Therefore, it is very important we are careful who we listen to and how we evaluate what they are saying. The filters we use to discern what is best for us to repeat are often taught to us at a young age. However, we can learn to be better at it as we grow older. In fact, through experience, it often does.
King David, Israel’s most famous king, states it is the spirit of the Lord who is speaking through him. We know that when Samuel anointed David as God’s chosen king that the spirit of the Lord came upon him. We might think of it now as the Holy Spirit being gifted to David much as the Holy Spirit is gifted to us. David didn’t always listen to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. He ignored it at times, just like we do. Yet, David also listened and followed the Holy Spirit’s guidance often.
When we read God’s Word and listen for his Holy Spirit to guide us, we, too, can have God’s words on our tongue. We can speak the truth of God. The only question is, will we? It is our choice to speak God’s word to others or to ignore his guidance. May each of us choose to speak as God guides us to speak.
I pray we choose to read God’s Word. I pray we choose to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I pray each one of us will choose to speak as God guides us to speak. Read God’s Word. Listen for the Holy Spirit. Follow God’s guidance. Speak as God guides you.
2 Samuel 23:2
The spirit of the Lord speaks through me,
his word is upon my tongue.
Marty Pressey 