Morning Devotional 111525 Building Up With Words

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

November 15, 2025 

Ephesians 4:29-32

29 Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say. 30 Don’t make the Holy Spirit of God unhappy—you were sealed by him for the day of redemption. 31 Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. 32 Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.

Good Morning! Let all who have breath, praise God!

Words are powerful! Good words build up, and hurtful words tear down. I recall from my early childhood that my mom taught me, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” These words are great advice, but sometimes in the heat of the moment, those hurtful thoughts we are holding in just come out. As soon as we say them, we wish we could pull them back in or erase them from the air where they linger indefinitely, but there they sit.

In addition to those hurtful words, we sometimes speak unnecessary words. For example, the words that are uttered that state the obvious of an awkward situation. Comedian, Bill Engvall, coined the phrase, “Here’s your sign!” in his comedy routine. 

I stayed late at work one night 

and a co-worker looked at me and said, 

"Are you still here?" I replied, 

"No. I left about 10 minutes ago. 

Here's your sign."

So, how do we do as Paul is instructing the Ephesians, 31 Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. 32 Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.

We must rely on the Holy Spirit within us to nudge us, mold us, and make us into God’s children who see and reflect upon all that is good in the world around us. When we learn to see the good in everyone and everything, our words will match our thoughts.

Lord, you bless us abundantly! Help us THINK before we speak. May we use words to build up, not tear down one another. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: The words I speak shape the way I view the world.

Foster Good Thoughts! Pastor Liz