The Heart Behind our Words

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

January 18th Sermon, Day 2

Devotional

Have you ever noticed how the same words can feel completely different depending on who says them and how they say them? A simple "We need to talk" can feel threatening or caring, depending on the heart behind it.

Our words are windows into our hearts. When our hearts are filled with anger, fear, or pride, those emotions leak into our conversations, no matter how carefully we choose our words. But when our hearts are shaped by God through prayer, something beautiful happens—our words begin to carry His love.

This is why prayer isn't just a nice addition to difficult conversations; it's essential preparation. In those quiet moments with God, He works on the condition of our hearts. He reminds us of His love for us and for the person we're about to engage with. He softens our pride and strengthens our compassion.

When we skip this heart preparation, we're likely to speak from our worst impulses. We defend rather than listen. We attack rather than understand. We seek to win rather than to love.

But when we allow God to shape our hearts first, our conversations transform. We speak with patience instead of frustration. We listen with genuine curiosity instead of planning our rebuttal. We approach others with the same grace God has shown us.

The person you're struggling to communicate with needs to encounter God's love through your words. That can only happen when your heart has been touched by that same love first.

Bible Verse

'Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.' - Colossians 4:2-6

Reflection Question

How might your most challenging relationships change if you consistently allowed God to shape your heart before you spoke?

Quote

The condition of our conversations is directly connected to the condition of our hearts. And it's in prayer where God shapes your heart.

Prayer

Father, I confess that too often my words reflect the condition of my heart rather than Yours. Please work in me, shaping my heart to be more like Jesus. Help me to speak from a place of love, patience, and humility. Amen.

Starting With Prayer Not Planning

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

January 18th Sermon, Day 1

We live in a world where everyone seems to have an opinion ready to fire at a moment's notice. Social media has trained us to respond quickly, defend our positions, and win arguments. But what if there's a better way?

When facing difficult conversations, our natural instinct is to plan our arguments, gather our facts, and prepare our defense. We rehearse what we'll say and anticipate their responses. But Paul suggests a radically different starting point: prayer.

Prayer isn't just a nice spiritual addition to our conversations—it's the foundation. When we begin with prayer, we're acknowledging that we need God's wisdom, not just our own cleverness. We're asking Him to shape our hearts before we shape our words.

Think about the last difficult conversation you had. Did you spend more time preparing your arguments or preparing your heart? The difference is profound. When we start with prayer, we approach others with humility rather than pride, with love rather than the need to win.

Prayer reminds us that the person across from us isn't our enemy—they're someone God loves. It helps us see beyond the issue to the individual. It transforms our goal from winning to loving.

Today, before you engage in any challenging conversation, pause. Pray first. Ask God to prepare your heart, guide your words, and help you love well. You might be surprised how this simple shift changes everything.

Bible Verse

'Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.' - Colossians 4:2-6

Reflection Question

What would change about your difficult conversations if you spent as much time praying about them as you do planning your arguments?

Quote

Grace filled conversations begin with prayer.

Prayer

Lord, help me to come to You first before I engage with others. Shape my heart through prayer so that my words reflect Your love and wisdom. Give me the humility to seek Your guidance rather than relying on my own understanding. Amen.

Conversations That Point To Jesus

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

January 11th Sermon, Day 5

Every conversation is an opportunity. Not just to be heard or to win a point, but to reflect the character of Jesus to someone who needs to see him. This transforms everything about how we engage with others, especially when the topics are difficult or the stakes feel high.

When Jesus stays central to our conversations, humility can reign instead of pride. When we remember that our ultimate goal isn't to prove ourselves but to point others toward him, our entire approach changes. We can be kind and courageous at the same time. We can hold convictions without hostility. We can speak truth without fear because we know who we are in Christ.

Here's a powerful question to ask yourself before and during every difficult conversation: "Would my tone make someone curious about Jesus, or would it make them push him away?" This isn't about being fake or hiding your true feelings. It's about letting your security in Christ shape how you engage with others. You don't have to fight for your worth in every conversation. You don't have to prove yourself or dominate others to feel valuable. Your worth was settled at the cross. This freedom allows you to listen more, judge less, and love better.

Remember, before you're opponents, you're people. Before you're debaters, you're neighbors. Before you are right or wrong, you're both created in God's image. When you approach conversations with this perspective, even the most challenging discussions can become opportunities to reflect Jesus' love and draw others toward him rather than pushing them away. Let every conversation be a chance to show the world what Jesus looks like in action.

Bible Verse

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. - Ephesians 2:19, 2:21-22

Reflection Question

In your next difficult conversation, how can you intentionally reflect Jesus' character in a way that might make the other person curious about him?

Quote Would my tone make someone curious about Jesus? Or would it make them push him away?

Prayer

Jesus, help me to see every conversation as an opportunity to reflect Your love and character. Give me the wisdom to speak truth with kindness and to hold my convictions with humility. May my words and tone draw others toward You, not push them away. Amen.

Remember Your Own Story

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

January 11th Sermon, Day 4

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to be patient with yourself but impatient with others? You give yourself the benefit of the doubt, understanding your own struggles and circumstances, but somehow expect others to have it all figured out.

This double standard is one of the biggest obstacles to healthy conversations. One of the most powerful tools for difficult conversations is remembering your own story of grace. Think about all the times God has been patient with you. Remember the mistakes you've made, the blind spots you've had, the seasons when you were completely wrong about something important. Recall how gently God corrected you, how patiently he worked with you, how much grace he extended when you didn't deserve it.

When you truly remember your own story, something beautiful happens. It becomes really hard to be arrogant in your dealings with others. It becomes nearly impossible to talk down to someone when you remember how patient God has been with you. Your tone softens. Your heart opens. Your words become seasoned with the same grace you've received.

This doesn't mean you become a pushover or abandon your convictions. It means you speak from a place of humility rather than superiority. You engage from security rather than anxiety. You remember that you're talking to a person, not just a position - someone who, like you, is on a journey and still learning. The next time you feel your blood pressure rising in a conversation, take a moment to remember your own story. Let the grace you've received overflow into grace you extend to others.

Bible Verse

…And in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. - Ephesians 2:16

Reflection Question

What's one area where God has shown you tremendous patience, and how can remembering that change how you treat others who struggle in that same area?

Quote It should be really hard to be arrogant in our dealings with someone else when we remember the grace that we've received from God, every single one of us.

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your incredible patience with me. Help me to remember my own story of grace when I'm tempted to be harsh with others. Let the mercy You've shown me overflow into mercy I show to those around me. Amen.

Disagreement vs. Division

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

January 11th Sermon, Day 3

Not all conflict is created equal. There's a world of difference between a disagreement and a division, though we often treat them as the same thing. Understanding this distinction can transform how you navigate every difficult conversation in your life.

Disagreement says, "We see this differently." It acknowledges that two people can look at the same situation and come to different conclusions. It leaves room for respect, relationship, and even learning from each other. Division, on the other hand, says, "You're the enemy." It turns the other person into an opponent to be defeated rather than a fellow human being to be understood.

Jesus doesn't erase all our differences when we follow him. You'll still prefer different music, vote for different candidates, and have different opinions about countless topics. But he does redeem our relationships. He gives us a way to disagree without being disagreeable, to hold strong convictions without treating others as enemies.

This is liberating news! Being faithful to Jesus doesn't mean you have to avoid all disagreement or pretend you don't have strong opinions. It means refusing to let those differences destroy your relationships. It means remembering that the person across from you - whether in your living room or on your screen - is created in God's image, just like you.

The next time you find yourself in a heated discussion, pause and ask: Am I treating this as a disagreement or am I sliding into division? Am I trying to understand this person, or am I trying to defeat them? The answer to that question will determine whether the conversation builds bridges or burns them down.

Bible Verse

His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace - Ephesians 2:15

Reflection Question

Think of a recent disagreement you've had - were you treating the other person as someone to understand or someone to defeat?

Quote There's a difference between disagreement and division. Disagreement says that we see this differently. Division says you're the enemy.

Prayer

God, help me to see the difference between disagreement and division in my relationships. Give me the wisdom to hold my convictions firmly while treating others with love and respect. Help me to be a bridge-builder, not a wall-builder. Amen.