If the title alone doesn’t have you singing the lyrics to the 1990’s hit, then maybe this will help:
More than words to show you feel
That your love for me is real
What would you say
If I took those words away?
Then you couldn’t make things new
Just by saying “I love you”
Have you ever gotten into a rut with your words? As soon as we can talk we quickly learn the “right” words to say. As adults we know how to talk to climb the corporate ladder, the routine of conversation when we walk in the door or at dinner with our family, and all the “right” phrases to say around other Christians. But oh so often, we are just in a rut.
In high school my boyfriend and I had a swell idea to take the Jeep down to the beach parking lot. It was fun driving around a snowy deserted parking lot without worrying about hitting anything. The fun ended however, when we hit sand that had drifted onto the parking lot. You see I grew up in Michigan so not only was there snow in the winter, there was a lot of wind off Lake Michigan which would send any loose sand flying all over the place. And if you have ever tried to ride a bike through sand, then you can only imagine what it is like trying to drive a car through sand. We had hit a rut and the tires were just spinning. Being the person I am, I quickly panicked that we would be stuck forever (this was before cell phones) but thankfully he was less emotional than I was at got us out with some fenageling (I feel like I remember cardboard but honestly that was over 20 years ago and I was not quite calm during the situation).
I think a lot of us are just spinning tires in a sand rut.
We are saying the words we need to say, but we are barely making it through each day. We cling to the routine in hopes we can pretend it is all ok. Some of us have had a tragedy that has slumped us in a form of defeat, barely able to survive the daily small talk. Others of us have just got into a bad routine of only words.
Don’t get me wrong, I love words. Words fill countless pages of books, song lyrics, and news articles. Words can provide a companion to loneliness, hope for the hopeless, and even a solution to a problem.
But there is the problem with only our words, as Extreme sung it in 1990, it is only words. We get so used to saying, “I love you” to the ones we love at the end of a phone conversation we accidently say it to someone who is not in a family relationship with us. We are then forced to immediately hang up the phone and hope it is never mentioned or frantically call back to apologize if we said it as we were pushing the red button. Although this is a problem, the bigger problem is we are only using words with those we love. This leads to marriages losing spark, relationships with children drifting apart, and friendships dying off.
We are not just guilty with our repetitive use of words and lack of action with our earthly relationships, but with our Father too.
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Matthew 6:7
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Pray continually. Other versions say “pray without ceasing” or stopping. Can you say this is you? I can’t say it is me. But I will say, wouldn’t it be awesome? Just like the people in our life on this physical earth, we are closest with those we make the time for. We are closest with those we make the effort to talk to, be vulnerable with, and give our best to. Therefore, when we make the time to continuously speak to God, the relationship shifts. We are no longer just asking for selfish desires but are actually in a relationship with Him. Once our relationship changes we are able to be a light for others.
Have you ever met that person who is just contagiously happy, bright, joyful, and a light?
I aspire to be like that person not just because they are inspiring, but because God calls us to be both salt (check out Salty Christian) and light.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
When we are in constant communication with Him and obedient to what He calls us to do we are allowing the Holy Spirit to use us to be a light for others. This light is contagious; others want to be around it, understand it, and then aspire to achieve it.
Unlike every other thing we aprire to do or be, being the light for Him is the only one truly worth achieving.
So today, make your prayer more than words. Change your words into a true communication with Him. Then watch your relationships all around you change. He wants more than your words, He wants your willingness to be obedient to His calling for your life. Are you ready for it?
