The lips of the righteous

know what is acceptable...

              Proverbs 10. 32

(Not just the right thing to say

but what is upbuilding

            in the situation,

even in the hard stuff

  and among difficult people.

What am I bringing

                 to this table?

Practicing over and over

          not just words of grace

   but a new heart in this.

Well-practiced

            and ready to use

    at a moment's notice.

Words of grace

         never wear out

      and never get old.

Others are watching and listening

       --even other believers--

to see if we really believe

           in His grace.

Do we react

                   or respond?

What have we practiced?

Not working on our attitude

          but being found in Him.

Seeking our way through this

                 or His?)

O LORD,

We pray that You would

   enlarge our vocabulary

that we would respond

            appropriately

   in the heat of the situation

not just realize it afterwards.

Grant us not just right words

     but a right heart.

Use our words

to bring unexpected blessing

and Your glory

   even in dark places

   and among unlikely people.