WHAT COMMENT OR CONVERSATION HAS HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON YOU?

WHAT COMMENT OR CONVERSATION HAS HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON YOU?    Words can be used to encourage people or destroy them. Conversations can be filled with important instructions or rude admonishments that can change one's life forever. They can bring laughter, memories, or tears. When have words impacted you for good or for bad? Become an expert at blocking out the disrespect, garbage, and insults that miserable souls like to dish out. And, by the way, are you aware of the impact your words have on other people? Do you try to be a good listener when people are speaking to you? Focus today on how God can use conversations to help you fulfill your purposes for him.     WORDS CAN BE EITHER BLESSINGS OR CURSES   Try to remember words that affirmed you or perhaps even some that stung. Did a parent, grandparent, relative, friend, neighbor, teacher, or coworker make a comment to you? Did a boss, store clerk, postal worker, waitress, or psychologist have a conversation with you? Did a playground bully, a dedicated coach, or a guidance counselor have something to say to you?     Denalyn Lucado, who now has a ministry of mercy for single moms, had a series of conversations that turned her life around and healed her aching heart.     DENALYN LUCADO LISTENED AND LEARNED     Denalyn grew up in a Christian home, became a teacher, and married a Brazil-bound missionary named Max (who is now an author with more than thirty-three million books in print). Her life with him has been a treasure, and being a mom is one of her greatest joys. She says that her ongoing communion with the Lord sustains her, fills her, and humbles her. It has created in her a passion for intercessory praying.     Denalyn freely shares that for years she suffered with depression and anxiety, even though she loved God with all her heart. Her repeated attempts to recover were unsuccessful, until her friend, through tender conversations, helped her understand more about God's grace and mercy. Over time, the Holy Spirit then used the repeatedly kind words of her sister-in-Christ to renew Denalyn's mind and free her from depression, as she more fully understood the assurance and security of her eternal salvation. Denalyn's deeper understanding of God's ways set her free to praise, pray, and play.     After delivering her from depression, the Lord gave Denalyn a ministry of mercy to pray for, encourage, and help single moms in her church. She absolutely loves those women! She says, "Women find intimacy and fellowship in conversation. We encourage or discourage others with our words, so all our communication must flow from a loving heart that is fully dependent on Christ."     What Comment or Conversation Has Had a Great Impact on You? Zacchaeus Was Influenced by a Conversation     Jesus singled out Zacchaeus from a crowd and invited himself to be a houseguest. We don't know the details of their conversation, but we do know that Zacchaeus repented of his sins, promised to make restitution for his wrongdoing, and believed in Jesus. Read Luke 19:1–10. To whom have your words been a blessing lately?     SCRIPTURE TO PONDER     May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)     SUGGESTED PRAYER     O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. Today I, _________, ask you to help me become acutely aware of how my comments and conversations positively or negatively affect others, how they build or destroy. Guide my conversations, so that through my words, you will fill others with hope and courage. And, if I need to speak a hard truth, let me do so from a loving heart filled to overflowing with your grace. Let me truly be the mouthpiece of your Holy Spirit when I speak and his ears when I listen.     So . . . What Insight, Prayer, or Action Step Has God Laid on Your Heart Today?

---

Add whatever you love to the Yahoo! India homepage. Try now!