Listen

But can anyone know what they’ve accidentally done wrong? Clear me of any unknown sin and save your servant from willful sins. Don’t let them rule me. Then I’ll be completely blameless; I’ll be innocent of great wrongdoing.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:12-14

Think

Sin is all around us. We see the hurt and pain people cause one another on a regular basis. But we also sin without knowing. Sometimes we say or do something that causes harm although that wasn’t our intention. The great theologian, Martin Luther, when he was anxious or distressed, would say aloud to himself “I am baptized” over and over again. Not only did it provide him peace, he used it to prevent him from sinning. His mindset was that if he could keep those words in his mind, it would prevent his heart and mind from wandering to sin.

Maybe repeating “I am baptized” over and over isn’t your thing, but all of us are prone to wander. Anything we can have at our disposal to keep us grounded in faith is something worth seeking. What might that be for you? Might there be something you do regularly to keep your heart pleasing in God’s sight? Maybe it’s a song or drawing or saying a prayer. Think of something to start today.

Jeremy Wilhelmi

Pray

God of Grace, forgive me when I cause pain to others with or without knowing. Cleanse my heart so that my words, my actions, and my thoughts are pleasing in your sight. Amen.

Go

Speak out, but speak kindly.

Speak boldly, but speak humbly.

Speak often, but don’t waste your words.

Speak passionately, but speak faithfully.

Speak the truth, but speak it in love.

Speak, but don’t forget to listen.