Words
As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. ~ 1 Samuel 3:19 (NLT)
For not only did the message about the Lord go out from you throughout Macedonia and Achaia, but the news about your faith in God has gone everywhere. There is nothing, then, that we need to say. ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:8 (GNT)
KEY IDEA:
Your words make a difference.
PRAYER:
Your powerful word, Holy Lord, created the heavens and the earth. It is your word that gives power to my words. Help me to be aware of how I use words. Help me to speak in ways that build up and don't tear down. Empower my words to help others come to know you more deeply and love you more sweetly. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
