This is from a website--Desiring God.org
The author wants us to practice the right way of speech.This essay has a lot of Biblical quotations to justify the seven rules.
Mt: 12:36-37--Jesus telling us to be watchful of our words.
Col 4: 6--speech to be gracious
Eph: 4:29--Words --should build up--give grace to those who hear.
1.Tell the truth about God:
1Tim 4:11-13---Command and teach .those who speak well are those who listen to god in his word.make a defense ...for a reason for the hope that is in you.
2.Tell the truth about everything. Eph 4:25
3.Build others up with your words:
Eph 4: 15-16
Not just the absence of tearing others down--anger ,cynicism,gossip,impatience,slander and so on but the presence of encouragement. Cor 14: 12
4Avoid all foolishness and filthiness
Eph 4: 29
Col 3: 8; Eph 5: 4.Social media is overrun with this corrupting language.
5.Be unusually thankful.
Eph 5:4.Do you want your words to radiate grace? Thank God often.Col 2:7
Phili 2: 14-15.
6.Correct with gentleness
Gal 6:1
A gentle tongue is a tree of life(prov.15:4)
7.leave behind boasting in self. 1 Cor 1: 28-29. 1 cor 1:31
Humble , faithful ,joy-filled speech boasts less and less in self and more and more in God.
Ask God to watch our words.
Ps 141:3
Set a guard ,O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.
