Foul Language

Ephesians 4:29, 6:4
Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes; these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. (NLT)

In today's world it is hard to not be around foul language. It is everywhere; on television shows, in the movies, in the novels we read, and coming out of the mouths of many we know. Some we even love.

Before we were walking with Christ, we used foul language, told dirty jokes, and love to use innuendoes with sexual meaning. I did not grow up that way. I never heard my parents use a foul word even once. As I grew older and left home I made new friends and picked up many new words. Oh, I knew the words, but just did not use them much in my High School years.

I worked hard to not use bad words when I was around church people, older folks, and my parents, aunts, and uncles. It took self control to do that. They probably thought "What a nice young man", but little did they know what came out of my mouth when I left.

When my wife, Dianne was healed of Crohn's disease in 1991 God took away the disease, repaired the damage, and removed her foul language. Our daughter of 10 said to her a couple of days later in the week, "Mommy, you don't swear anymore!"

Now I accepted Jesus into my heart and started my journey with Him. My mouth did not change. I still had to work at it especially when I banged my thumb hitting a nail with my hammer!

Over time, as I received more of Him on the inside, others speaking the way i used to made me cringe. I could no longer watch movies that had foul or abusive language. I did not want to be around people who told obscene stories and coarse jokes.

I thank God that He took that away from me. I no longer have to watch my language. And when I do something dumb and injure myself those long multi-word obscenities do not come rushing out. Thank you Jesus.