Salty Speech

What do you do when people try to test the Jesus in ya?

What do you do when you book a hotel room, call and confirm the day before, call the day of to give an ETA,  only to discover when you arrive, they have given your room away? 

What do you do when you have your signal on waiting for a parking spot only to be beaten to the spot by another car – one that had not been waiting and did not have their signal on, nonetheless? 

What do you do when you arrive home from a long day of work, running kiddos here and there, to realize you forgot to actually turn on the crock pot that morning? All the while, your kids are “hangry”! 

Feel free to answer with “emojis” or “GIFS”. This shirt by @rubysrubbish is EXACTLY what I’m thinking to “my” fleshly self.  However, within our spirits we are encouraged by Paul and James to respond by being slow to speak, slow to anger, and to be gracious with our words (James 1:19, ESV and Colossians 4:6, ESV).  

 Honestly, when the circumstances of my daily life prompt stress, worry, anger, heartache, irritability, misunderstanding and confusion, instinctively my flesh responds in preparation by adding seasoning to my speech, but it’s more like habanero sauce instead of salt.

“Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how you should answer each person. “
Colossians 4:6 (ESV)

I recently read a book, Women of the Word, by Jenn Wilkin. She stated that women are leaving the church in unprecedented numbers. Could it be that we are unsure of our role, our purpose, within the body? She stated, “ rather than acting as salt and light, we become bland contributions to the environments we inhabit and shape, indistinguishable from those who have never been changed by the gospel.”

There is a constant battle within all of us. As a believer in Jesus Christ, at the time you accepted Jesus as your Savior, the battle between your flesh and your spirit began. However, if we walk by the spirit we will not carry out the desires or instincts of our flesh (Galatians 5:16). There are many characteristics of my flesh that I am trying to override with the Fruits of the Spirit.  My mouth has always been a thorn in my flesh – quick to anger, quick to speak and lacking in gratitude.

“So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh,
a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.”
2 Corinthians 12:7b (NLT)

In the context of this verse, Paul was a man transformed by the Holy Spirit, and he devoted his life to become a prisoner for the Lord, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. While walking in a manner worthy of his calling, God unfolded spiritual revelations to Paul for His purpose in instructing, encouraging, and rebuking unbelievers as well as believers, the ungodly and the godly.

Paul was called to do extraordinary things through his faith in Jesus Christ, including writing 13 books of the New Testament.  All scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). We too are called to do extraordinary things through our faith in Jesus Christ. However, thorns are provided for the prevention of becoming proud. God gives grace to the humble, and that grace is sufficient for our spirits to be victorious over our flesh.

The unfolding truth is that my speech is not salty because my salt shaker is empty.  

Let’s make scripture practical. When you are in your kitchen fixing dinner and you run out of salt, what do you do? You either go to the pantry and get more salt, or run to Kroger, right?

When our spirits becomes bland, and we aren’t salty with the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), we must refill our salt shakers and season our spirits with God. It’s essential that we run to the Word.  

 EVERY. DAY.

To remain salty and seasoned, I must refill my spirit every day with the Word.  Scripture is ALIVE! (Hebrews 4:12).  The Word of God is living and active: It corrects us, instructs us, guides us, and develops our hearts to desire more of Him and less of ourselves. God longs to meet with us every day.  

I don’t want to “become bland contributions to the environments we inhabit and shape, indistinguishable from those who have never been changed by the gospel.” I want to be transformed by the Gospel! Only when we go to The Word every day,  can we live out James 1:19 and Colossians 4:6. 

When our salt shaker has been filled with the Spirit instead of habanero sauce, we can then season those within our circle of influence and live out The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) as God expands our boundaries.

Time to Unfold

• Read God’s Word: Fill your salt shaker daily with His Word.
• Pray: Ask God to reveal who and what He wants you to season.
• Do: Live out the truth He sprinkles into your spirit.
• Repeat

Ladies, please know that I am walking this journey with you. I am daily filling my salt shaker with His Word, trying to have seasoned speech. The journey is hard but so much sweeter by linking arms with other Jesus Girls. Our prayer is you find community here at Unfolding Ministries. Please know that Debbie and I are praying for you.

This week, leave us a message about how God is working within your life as you are filling up your salt shakers to season your speech. Let us know how you are living out the truths He sprinkles into your spirit.

Filling my shaker with His Word,