“Oh no!  Is Alexa on?  What about Google assist, is that on?”

How many of us have uttered these words, either in our own heads, or out loud to the people we were just talking to?

Today, smart technology is everywhere.  We are constantly checking to make sure our conversations are not being capturing by our phones, or by our smart listening devices that ever so clearly know how to play the music we want and how to order the very thing we “need” from amazon… oh no… is it listening to us?

What if what you were talking about was heard by that very person?

Is it true? Necessary? Or kind?

Truly, the question is: Why do we care so much about what Alexa hears rather that what God hears?  Our God is greater than Alexa or Google assist!

• God hears everything!
• God sees everything!
• God knows everything!

Do we truly believe that our God is greater than these smart technology devices that sit on our kitchen counter?  If we truly believed that God is greater, why do we “fear” these technologies more?  Why do we not have the reverent fear and care of the Lord?

Too often our speech and actions change when we are around people, but in private, we let loose in a sense, habitually excusing sin.  Gossip is sin!  Degrading someone is sin!  Complaining is sin!

So, how do we start exhibiting honor and glory to God by obedience in keeping our speech pure?

1. PRAY and ask God for help!

Prayer is oftentimes an act of worship we run to when we “need” something.  Yet, oftentimes we see in the Word the plea for growth.   Certainly, this prayer of David’s can be one we apply in our lives today, requesting God to shape our hearts.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in
Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14

2. Use the BIBLE as a mirror

The Bible is full of wonderful tools that help shape our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.  It is vital that we spend quality time in God’s Word, while observing ourselves in the mirror.  Normally, we would not look at the mirror and see our messy hair or broccoli in our teeth, and ignore it right?  Likewise, when we read God’s Word, He reveals truth to us, enabling us to be constantly changing into His image.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”
James 1:22-24

3. Put OFF and Put ON

It is important that we start training ourselves in a godly manner.  We need to practice putting off negative and degrading speech and putting on loving and encouraging speech.  Training takes time, but God enables us to do the hard work with His help.  Scientifically, our minds have the capability of change, and with a heart focused on loving and caring about God and His Word, our behaviors change as a result.  As this transformation happens, these new and godly behaviors become more natural.

“…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24

4. Nourish your Heart and Mind with GOOD things

God made us pretty intricately, with a brain that can retrain and rewire itself (Neuroplasticity) The more good things we feed it, the more we are grateful.  Feeding our minds with truth matters.  As humans, we have fallen short, but we have to remind ourselves that the speech that proceeds from our tongues matter.  Our speech should be used to glorify God, so let us work toward that!

“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”
James 3:10

So, the next time you’re sitting at your kitchen table and you wondered if Alexa or Google assist heard what you said, remind yourself that God did, and that should matter even more!