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Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:11-14 NIV
Part of this Psalm was turned into a kids song, and it's so easy to read it as just applying to children...but when reflecting on this it was me who has the harsh words, me who gossips,  me who put others down...
Our words are important.
David says to get control over my words.
And then to turn from evil.
That seems to be about the evil in my heart.
The antidote isn't to use good words, but to do good.
And to seek peace.
Peace isn't just going to happen by accident or luck. Seek it out. Pursue it. Chase after it. It's elusive.
And what's causing you not to have peace may well be different to me.
In those things (doing good, seeking peace) my words will change, because my heart is changing...it's out of a changing heart words of hope, life, & grace come.
#psalms
#psalm34
#speaklife

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