If You Don't Have Something Nice to Say

I’m so excited that you’re here joining me in week 1 of the 4 part series, Beautiful You. Each week we want to dig deeper and encourage and empower every young woman who has ever experienced heartbreak, moments of feeling “not so beautiful”, and those who are still trying to figure out their role in this thing called “life”. Embrace this experience with us, all we ask is that you come with an open heart, an open mind and let Jesus do the rest.

How many times have you found yourself thinking or even whispering to the friend next to you, How could she possibly contribute to ministry with an attitude like that? or How can she act like that and still call herself a Christian? I’m guilty. It sounds terrible as I write this but it is so much easier to see the faults in others. I once read, you can see in others only what you have tasted yourself. Let that sink in. We are so quick to condemn what we are guilty of ourselves. Amos 3:3 states Can two walk together, except they be agreed? We share a common direction, a common purpose that is greater than all of us. It is so easy to dehumanize each other, pick apart all the good and bad and categorize them where we think they belong. I wonder though, if we can so easily do this to others, what do we say about ourselves? We are our own worst critic (once again, I’m guilty). What we think and say to that woman in the mirror can easily destroy us in a split second.

Remember that old saying as a child, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Usually that was meant so that we would be nice to our friends and stay out of trouble. But rarely do we see that used in the same context of the things we say about ourselves. How many times have you looked in the mirror and listed all the things you wish you could change?

Beauty is more than just superficial. No matter how cliché it sounds, it truly stems from the heart, it begins with having a Godly character. Although someone could be perceived as “beautiful” that could all change as soon as they open their mouth. If you’re filled with negativity, impatience, hurt, depression, anger, anxiety... it eventually makes its appearance. But what if we filled ourselves with more things like kindness, understanding, selflessness, love, forgiveness, etc. It’s not about being the perfect person but it’s more about mirroring who He is. How do we do this? By spending time in his Word, studying scripture, praying even if it’s just a little each day. No, it won’t make you perfect, but it will make loving yourself and others that much easier.

1 Corinthians 16:14 

Let all that you do be done in love.

Next time you’re about to let something roll off your tongue, whether about yourself or others, think about this:

•       What are your intentions? Are they to uplift or to destroy?
•      What if that thought you had or that comment you just made was directed toward someone you care about?
•       Are you speaking out of anger or love?
•       Did you take a second to pray for the individual?

Refuse to spend one more second magnifying the enemy’s plans; they are always aimed to destroy.  No matter what your thought or response is, let it be carried out in love. Remember, if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Click here for a free download to keep as a daily reminder & join us next week for part 2 of the Beautiful You series!