Day 15: Words That Bring Peace
Bible passage: Malachi 2:4–7
The Final Week Begins
Today is Saturday 15th of January 2022. Welcome to Day 15 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. As we enter our final week, God speaks to us about something we use every day: our words.
The prophet Malachi was sent to a people who had grown careless about God. Much of his message was aimed at the priests, the very people who were supposed to teach everyone else.
A Covenant of Life and Peace
What a Priest Was Meant to Be
God reminds them of His covenant with Levi, the father of the priestly tribe. Its purpose, He says, was to bring life and peace. Levi stood in awe of God’s name. He taught the truth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked closely with God and turned many people away from sin. A priest was meant to be a messenger of the Lord, someone whose words could be trusted (Malachi 2:5–7).
The priests of Malachi’s day were doing the opposite. Their teaching was causing people to stumble.
All of Us Are Priests Now
We might think this has nothing to do with us. But Peter says that everyone who belongs to Jesus is part of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Parents, friends, colleagues, leaders: all of us carry God’s name, and all of us shape other people with what we say.
Life and Peace in Your Mouth
The Power of Words
Scripture is blunt about it. “The tongue can bring death or life.” Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) With the same mouth we can build someone up or tear them down. Most of us can still remember a sentence that hurt us years ago, and one that gave us courage.
Speaking Peace This Week
Review. Look back over the past week. Were your words sharp, careless or untrue? Did you say something about a person that you would not say to them?
Repair. If you have wounded someone, go and put it right. An honest apology is a powerful act of peace.
Speak life on purpose. Choose three people today and encourage them in a specific way. Speak peace into a relationship that has been strained.
Stay close to God. Levi’s words were true because his walk was close. What fills our hearts will come out of our mouths.
Psalm 33:22 asks that God’s unfailing love would surround us, because our hope is in Him alone. And Paul prays that God would make our hearts strong, blameless and holy as we stand before Him (1 Thessalonians 3:13).
Prayer for Today:
Holy Spirit, set a guard over my mouth. Forgive me for words that have wounded, divided or misled. Fill my heart with Your truth and Your kindness, so that what I say brings life and peace. Give me the right words today for my family, my friends and those who are hurting. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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