turning chatter into Godly conversation

Turning Chatter into Godly Conversation

Vicki’s Predicament

Vicki had planned a beautiful brunch to congratulate the women for a job well done. No detail was spared. The china, the starched linen napkins, the homemade goodies were all just a means for gathering these faithful women, to see how the Lord had grown their hearts for His glory and their benefit through the memorization of His precious Word. There were even cards on the dining table with questions to promote conversation that pointed to the work God had accomplished or was accomplishing through this group’s achievement.

This small group of women had worked faithfully together to memorize the book of James over the course of several months. Surely their hearts were bursting with all the wonderful things they had learned from this profound book of Scripture.  They had made God’s Word a priority and the time had come to celebrate God’s faithfulness in all their efforts to hide God’s Word in their heart.

Well, you may identify with Vicki’s disappointment when the ladies’ conversation had little to do with what they had learned during this painstaking discipline of Scripture memory. There were far more “important things” to discuss that day. No matter how poor Vicki tried to steer the chatter, their conversation kept veering off to the shocking outcome of the latest “reality” show, and it seemed these dear ladies had little else on their hearts.

It was as though they had forgotten the celebration of God’s good Word all together.

In Vicki’s heart, the brunch was practically a failure. She walked away from the table with a soul that was empty…starving.

It seemed the conversation was no different that day than the casual greetings at the grocery store… “I’m fine, how are you?”… “It’s going to be a scorcher today!”… or… “How about that episode of ___________ last night” kind of conversation.

Cordial, but shallow, conversation that is soon forgotten.

The Age-Old Problem

We have all been there. We have participated in and quite frankly enjoyed conversations that really had nothing to do with encouraging or edifying one another, much less glorifying our Lord and Savior who deserves all of our affections.

I am so. horribly. guilty.  I confess, I can fill my heart with the trivial things of this world, and consequently, my speech reflects whatever I am alive to at the moment.

“What’s down in the well is what comes out of the bucket,” I remember hearing as a child. If my thoughts are superficial and worldly, so will be my conversations.

But if I am drawing deeply from the well of God’s goodness and His truths, I will be able to share something far more beneficial to those the Lord providentially places in my path. It is no accident the Psalmist cries to the Lord that the both the “words of his mouth AND the meditations of his heart would be pleasing to the Lord, his Rock and Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

This isn’t a new problem. Titus was left by Paul in Crete to help the local body of believers there who struggled with empty speech…

For there are many who are…empty talkers…” (Titus 1:10).

This wasn’t just a problem in Crete…

Paul had also left Timothy to help the Ephesians who had the same struggle…

spending their time in meaningless discussions” (2 Timothy 1:6).

Paul had to exhort the believers…

But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16).

The Believing Women’s Plea…

 Can we have a heart-to-heart, ladies?  A conversation has been popping up quite often lately as I meet with other women, so needless to say, this has been brewing within my heart and mind…

I have noticed that while speaking with younger women and older women alike, these women have expressed a desire, a plea of some sorts, for deep, meaningful conversation with other women. They want to have real heart-to-heart conversations about life and growing in Christlikeness, but they just can’t seem to forge through the shallow conversations for deeper, more meaningful discussions.

Their desire is much like Vicki’s…women are longing for significant, God-exalting conversations that make us more fit for our Savior. Their souls are starving — just like Vicki’s was that day.

When I hear this, it quickly brings me to examine my own heart to see if I am a part of the problem, and how I can better help be a part of the solution. By God’s grace, I desire to be the older woman who cheers on the younger woman for the glory of God in her marriage, family, home and ministry. Don’t you? Of course you do!

“All our words ought to be filled with true sweetness and grace;

and this will be so if we mingle the useful with the sweet” (John Calvin).

 

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