Filter

I can not even remember the context of the conversation but I was visiting with my son in law, Blake, and he was talking about how you have to filter information sometimes. The word "filter" just stuck out...it is funny how that happens to me so often...one word in a conversation just sticks...and I contemplate it for days. "Filter" is one of the ones that hit me this week. I think filtering is something that we do unconsciously and consciously. We evaluate the source..consider the playing field...relate it to our own experience and then... filter the information accordingly.

We think of a filter as something to stop the flow of impurities into water....or a guard within the internet to avoid spam....or an air filter for our cars and air conditions in our homes....or a swimming pool filter to keep debris from clogging up a system...but what about a conversation filter? We seldom consider it yet we use it all the time. What constitutes an active and viable filter for a Christian's conversation? My conversation filter should be through the sieve of the Holy Spirit. These are some of the filters and questions that I came up with: Is my conversation based on truth and honesty.or do I spin things according to my our self centered thinking?...Is it seasoned with salt or peppered with discontent? Are my words encouraging or do they make someone else immediately defensive or feel insecure? Is my conversation filled with grace finding the positive and giving passes to incident or is it filled with weapons of subtle destruction?

I started thinking about that and thought I need to establish a better filter within me for the words that come out of me. ...I considered how many things that I say without regard to a filter of God's truth, God's standards, and God's requirements of one of his followers. Gossip, mean spirited words, debates for self gratification, unmerited accusations, blame, just to name a few ...but all of these and so many more examples are tidbits of unfiltered conversation. Conversation that I would be embarrassed to speak in front of Christ. So why, if I know what to do....and know how to filter....do I still mess up? Because I am letting my natural sinful behavior run rampant without reigns... rather than allowing and asking God to bridle my tongue. I speak quickly without thought so many times and those careless words carelessly effect those to whom I am speaking in a deep and hurtful way.

A filter is a good thing....it is a devise to help guard impurities from contaminating whatever it is that we hold of value...our water, our air....and our conversation. Just as we put filters in our cars ...or on our faucets...or in our homes...so I think are we called to incorporate God's filters of truth, honesty, compassion, empathy, humility, sensitivity and discernment into how we converse with others?

These are a few verses that I found on the topic of conversation...but the verses in James tell a very clear story!
Colossians 4:6
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Psalm 141:3
Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen

James 3:3-6
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

I know these are a bunch of verses but they are are so relevant to how we communicate with others. It is said that communication is not only by words but by body language and by voice inflection...but I would add one other aspect...and it is that the words we say are a reflection of the heart that we maintain....

1 )if our words are askew...then maybe the heart needs mending...
2) and if our hearts need mending and we have asked God for help in assimilating our words....
3) he might start his work by mending our hearts....the root of the thoughts that make up our words.

Dear Lord, I ask you this day to bridle my mouth and guide my words so that they may be edifying and encouraging and filled with salt and that those whose path I cross may be lifted up in hope and in love. May the words that I speak be glorifying to your name and a blessings to others. Please Lord, be my filter! Amen

Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed you to be in...for His glory will shine through.
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