Relax. I’m not going to ask you to give up something important like chocolate or coffee. I want to ask you to give up something far more destructive.

A few days ago I started to say something in casual conversation to a family member. It was a thoughtless comment. A negative word about someone I did not even know. At that moment the Holy Spirit convicted me.

Now, as a general rule, I am a fairly positive person. But those who know me best would tell you that when I get overly tired I can also get irritable. We all must guard ourselves at such times.

One careless, critical word can do such damage. And so back to my story…

In the quiet of my spirit the Lord said to me, “I wonder what it would be like for you to go an entire day without saying anything unkind or hurtful?” I wonder.

Our mothers used to tell us that if we didn’t have something nice to say we shouldn’t say anything at all. That is good advice for all of life! Sometimes it is best to simply say nothing.

Would you join me in a challenge? Let’s ask God to help us go all day today without saying a single word that would grieve the Holy Spirit and hurt the heart of others.

“Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).