How God’s Word Helps Us Use Our Words Without Regret (& a GIVEAWAY of Zip It!)
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Giveaway winner: Congrats Jamie (comment left 1/23 at 9:45 a.m.) – check your email!
Yeah. Me too.
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Sound too simple? Too antiquated? Too difficult? Nope. It isn’t any of those things. When we commit God’s word to memory, it can help us to use our words in a way we won’t regret. To use them to build, not to break; to bless, not to badger; to encourage, not to embitter; to praise, not to pounce.
When we are about to hurl a little harshness at a child who has just ticked us off royally by asking us the same question for the forth time that day, we can pause and in our minds recite Psalm 15:1:
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
When you are in the midst of a group of people two are tearing it to someone, gossiping behind their back, in your mind you can rehearse the words of Ecclesiastes 5:6 over and over again, and then chose to keep your lips zipped:
Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.
Get the picture?
Now, if you’d like a little support in this endeavor, I have a devotional releasing next monthentitled Zip It, that is a follow up to my book Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All.
Zip It is a 40-day walk through the Bible and what it says about how we are—and are not—to use our words! Keep It Shut covered many topics, including anger, truth-telling, people-pleasing, our digital tongues online, and gossip. Because there are countless verses in the Bible that relate to our words and our silence, Keep It Shut only scratched the surface of these issues. My new book Zip It! now takes a deeper look and offers practical how-to’s that will inspire you to use your words without regret.
Each of the forty interactive entries includes a Scripture verse focus for the day, a story or teaching point, and reflection questions with space for readers to write their answers and thoughts. Each entry ends with both a challenge that will help you carry out the directive in the verse and a prayer prompt.
AND…..STAY TUNED!! Because this book contains 40 days of devotions……and Lent is coming…….
Please join us for Doing Lent Together in 2018 HERE.
Yay!!!!! I am extatic that you wrote this book! Keep it shut changed my life! Cant wait to read Zip It!!!! Yes ive hidden Gods word in my heart but I would love to learn more!!! Yay!
I hide his word in my heart it helps me to overcome difficult trials.Could use help in taking the tongue in anger need to be slower to speak
Ouch…this post hurt…hit me in the head. I do this with my kids. I’m a totally single mom who gets overwhelmed a lot. I try but I can never ZipIt when I need to…I would love to read this book.
I’ve often wanted to memorize scripture but always seemed to lose steam before really doing so. Two years ago a friend & I decided to participate in a scripture memory challenge. Having an accountability partner helped both of us accomplish our goal. The 24 verses I memorized are so deeply planted in my heart that they are a part of me now & are often on my lips at times of challenge, sorrow, and joy. Loved the experience so much, we are participating again this year. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Zip It. I recently finished reading Listen. Love. Repeat. and am about half way through Keep It Shut. Love Karen’s writing & love for Christ.
I’m struggling with FORGIVENESS… But I will say that reading Keep It Shut during some really tough times I was going thru really helped me get thru! ?
I struggle with spewing when I’m angry/frustrated. I could definitely use some Scripture suggestions to help with that. I think James 1:19-21 might be a good place to start!
This past year has been so controversial with the election, and I’ve seen friends and family divided over the candidates and the election. I want to have God’s word in my heart to know how to deal with all of the hurtful remarks going both ways.
I would love to read your new book! Loved this today and need to take it to heart. I need to have more patience when responding to my kids. I’m sure there are other areas of my life that I need to apply it to as well.
Keep It Shut was my very first online Bible Study with Proverbs 31! This book holds a special place in my heart, not only because I needed it and learned so much during that very first study, but also because by signing up for that study, God has led me to some of the most beautiful, Jesus loving women! I have been blessed with relationships and friendships I never would have thought possible! ? I even wrote my first blog on this topic! I have kept Keep It Shut on my desk as a reminder to tame my tongue, but also as a reminder of God’s goodness! ???
Ugh. I am so good and helping my children memorize scripture and very rotten and my doing it for myself. Although I am picking up a lot as we go along. I love the Lord and I love studying His Word and somehow in this time crunch of it parenting and homeschooling I need to find some nuggets of time to do a better job for me.
Oh how my mouth gets me in trouble. My father had a sign printed up for me that read “To save face keep your lower half shut” I do better today than I did when I was young but there are still those days. I try so hard to recite God’s word when I have messed up. Usually when I mess up my size 10 shoe is in my mouth. I would love to do this study as a follow up…perhaps it is just what God ordered for me.
I am not a dummy by any means but remember words of scripture cannot remember the book chapter verse. I am trying something Joanna Weaver author and I will try once more. I want to remember the words of my Jesus and my Father because they offer me solace of the deepest kind, they give me advice best. I would love to prepare for my favorite holiday as a Christian Resurrection Sunday!
Some days I walk around feeling out of sorts and angry with the way things are going or without purpose and empty, Those are the days I realize that I need God’s Word to fill the void. I hunger for the bread He provides in his message and that I have neglected …again! I have many of His Words in my heart hidden so deeply that I forget to use them when needed. It is so important for me to read the Bible every day so this doesn’t happen often. Though I don’t memorize well, I do try by reading scripture passages again and again.
Although I do not have a memorized verse that I repeat to myself to avoid saying whatever comes to mind, I do try to “bite my tongue” as much as I possibly can. I do, however, need the most work on always thinking before I speak & not saying things, out of anger, in the heat of he moment. I look forward to reading your new devotional!
Keep It Shut was the first book of Karen Ehman’s that I read and I became an instant fan because I needed the message so much myself! So I’m really excited for this follow up! I do struggle with this. Just today in fact, I had a mom over for a first-time playdate. While making conversation, I told a story about my husband and where I subtly put him down with an exasperated laugh. I was trying to connect with this other mom, but as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I was convicted that it was wrong to do it at my husband’s expense. i knew this because of the teachings of Karen, Jill Savage and authors in the Hearts at Home and Proverbs 31 library. Without meaning too, I was unkind with my words. And while it wasn’t to my husband’s face, it’s still not how I want to communicate about him.
I read Keep It Shut several times and I love to reread when I need help. I have the worse problem at work when everyone is gossiping. It’s hard to walk away, but I am trying. Would love a copy of new book!
I often do not know when to keep my mouth shut when it comes to sharing or seeking help. So excited about book!
I really want your Shut it books. I have to confess I am guilty of talking about you yesterday to my Pastor. I am trying to get him to have our group do your 40 day challenge.
I have been hiding God’s Word in my heart since I was a little girl and I am surprised sometimes how much scripture I do have committed to memory. It comes to my mind just when I need it.
I have a hard time with all the comments on facebook, in particular the political ones. I actually am taking a break from facebook – haven’t been on since the first. Maybe Zip It would help me use my words more carefully and I could go back on. Not that I said anything bad – I just quit fb so I would not be tempted to join in the fights, and bashing? I gave up instead of figuring out when I should speak up, or just shut up.
I love your idea of ”lent”. I shall definitely join!! Controlling my tongue better is something I’ve had on my mind for a while. I think the two key ones that I’ve been struggling with lately are gossip and anger (when not even a child, but a grown-up asks you the same questions over and over again…and eventually I hit the point wondering- can’t you put a little bit of more effort using your brain to remember?!…I really need more work there- and I loved the verse above on ”gentle answer turns away wrath…I definitely need to put it to the forefront of my mind).
Another verse that I usually remember, but at times a bit too late unfortunately is, that we can’t praise God and ”curse others” with the same tongue. It’s unacceptable to God. I find it to be a good reminder. I just need to implement it rock solid too in my life.
Would love to gain more wisdom and practical insights from your book :)
I hide God’s word in my heart by memorizing verses. I am doing a scripture memory challenge and have an accountability partner so that helps. I have to post notes, repeat and repeat to memorize. I am looking forward to these devotionals as my mouth gets me into trouble many times especially with my family. I say things before I think way too often or when I get frustrated I say something that later realize I shouldn’t have said.
I can’t wait to start this!!! There have been days where I have regretted things I have said that I regretted and times I should have said something and I didn’t ……Words can make such a difference. Looking forward to seeing Gods hand in all my relationships!
I need help not saying too much! I’m such a talker!
Hey there…blessings to you! Enjoy the article and memorizing scripture. I put the scripture I am learning in my car on the radio so I will see it. I read it…repeat it and see it daily until it is in my heart and mind. When I am in a difficult moment the scripture comes to mind and brings comfort and strength all at the same time. Thanks for sharing your story. God Bless Kathy
Committing God’s Word to memory is something I need to do more of. I’ve been praying to God for patience with those closest to me who at times tend to frustrate and annoy me. He has shared that how I think about the circumstance in the moment has a huge impact on the way I respond. Replacing my own thoughts with God’s Word and His perspective will change my behaviour and will lead to a more godly outcome. Yes, committing His word to memory is essential!