GOD GIVES US VOICES
“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice.” Psalm 116:1
When we think of all the wonderful blessings God has given us, we sometimes forget such a simple thing as our voices. We’re so used to talking from the moment we get up in the morning to the time we go to bed at night that we don’t often give much thought to it. However, if you ever had a sore throat and weren’t able to speak for a few days, you might have realized how important your voice is.
We rely on our voices to communicate with those around us. We use them to answer questions, to sing our favorite hymns, and to whisper our private thoughts to others. But how does air flowing out of our lungs turn into sounds and words? There are three things that help us to speak. The first is our lungs. These sacs capture air when we inhale. As we exhale, our diaphragm muscle pushes upward against our lungs and forces the air upward through our “windpipes” or “tracheas.” The stronger the air is pushed, the louder the sound. When the air reaches the top of our windpipes, it is funneled through the “larynx” or “voice box” which is made of two strips of muscle called “vocal cords.” These begin to vibrate as the air passes through them. If we relax these strips we make a low sound, and if we tighten them we make a high pitched sound, but that sound still isn’t recognizable. The buzzing air must then be passed through our throats, noses, and mouths. Even our lips, tongues, and teeth help shape the sound into something that others might understand. What a marvelous miracle God made when he designed our speech. Many things must work together for us to be able to communicate with one another.
The Bible gives us some hints to follow regarding our speech. Paul wrote: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” (Ephesians 4:29). Solomon wrote: “The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of a fool gushes folly” (Proverbs 15:2). And David wrote in Psalm 141: “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3). In other words, our voice is an important part of our body and we should be careful what it says.
We should use our voices to comfort those in need and to share the good news of Jesus. Our voices can be wonderful tools we use to talk with God and to sing praises to him.
Take my lips and let them move, at the impulse of Your love.
Take my voice and let me sing, always only for my King. Amen.
From Living for Jesus by Reynold R. Kremer