This Title Would Be "Speak" Were It Not For Taylor Swift

Talking is a strange thing. Not the actual words, or even the sound of them coming from one's mouth. Rather, the process of speaking is was puzzles me. Let me explain. Have you ever noticed that you can only do so much thinking before losing your train of thought and going down more than one rabbit trail? Sometimes this flow of conscience is peaceful and relaxing when there is no agenda or purpose. But when one is attempting to arrive at a conclusion about a specific issue, getting a thought process out of one's brain and into words is almost always the most efficacious way of working through something. (This transfer of thoughts to words can be done through either writing or speaking.)

I have personally found that if I want to figure something out, it is necessary for me to talk through it, or at least write so that I can see a concrete visual of the journey and destination of my thought process. In doing this, I often find that I know things that I did not know I knew. For example, once when I was talking with my friend about a certain theological issue, a random connection between Israel and our topic tumbled out of my mouth before I even knew what I had said. (Speaking in tongues! Glory hallelujah! jk ;] ) I had not even thought before of that connection, or if I had it had been a long time. And yet, through talking, the idea came out and was, if I may say so myself, a valid and interesting point. If I had been left to simply think about our conversation, I can honestly say that I do not believe that connection would have ever come to my mind.

How then can a person talk without thinking previously about what he or she is going to say? I have no idea! Have you ever thought of that? Even now, I am not thinking about what I am going to write, but rather the words are simply flowing from somewhere inside my brain, through my fingertips and onto the keyboard. How do words exit our mouths without any preparation of what we are going to say? Where do they come from? Perhaps I cannot explain my wonder at this phenomenon, as it is such a daily occurrence. I can only say that I am amazed at how God has designed the human body and psych to perform such involuntary tasks.

Aside from the physiological process of speaking, words are noteworthy for their strong ability to influence others. While that may seem obvious, since the purpose of words is for others to hear them (although there are people who talk into thin air, but we won't go there,) have you ever thought how words can either elevate or devastate a person? As it says in James 3,

"Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things."

You have been given the amazing ability to speak. How are you going to use it?