Our son Clayton was in law school when our children, Stephen, Elizabeth and Peter, arrived from Ukraine. While in law school, he had been coaching a soccer team of middle-schoolers in Lexington, Virginia. When he saw Stephen’s skills in soccer, Clayton arranged for him to join an elite team in Knoxville. Stephen was elated with this opportunity to do something in America in which he was already proficient. The coach was a wonderful Christian and he welcomed Stephen as a great addition to the team. But after a few weeks on the long ride home from practice, Stephen said to his mom, “I know Clayton won’t like it, but I want to get off the team. I want to play soccer, but I don’t want to learn the bad words in English.”

Stephen’s mom asked, “What do you mean, Stephen?”

With emotion Stephen explained, “In Ukraine I knew all the bad words. That’s how I’ve always talked. But now I am Christian. I know if I keep hearing the bad words that those boys on the team say all the time, the words will stay in my head and I will use them. I don’t want to think or speak that way anymore.”

Susan asked, “Would you like for me to speak to the coach about it?”

Stephen said, “No, mom. The coach does tell them not to talk that way. They still do it. I talked that way before I knew Jesus. Nobody could have made me stop. I think it’s best if I don’t play. I can play at the Ranch. People don’t talk that way at the Ranch.”

My mother’s parents were both born in Norway. When they came to America, they wanted to be American, and they wanted their children to be American. So, although they loved the warm fellowship of their Norwegian speaking church in Chicago, they helped form a new congregation where all the services would be in English. They were not ashamed of their Norwegian heritage, but they were determined that their children would speak English.

If we want to speak the language of the kingdom, we must make choices. Stephen’s willingness to give up competitive soccer is an example the rest of us would do well to follow. If we don’t want to have our hearts and our minds filled with garbage, we need to do everything in our power to control what goes in. That will make a huge difference in what comes out.

God’s word says: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Can you choose to be joyful always? Yes, you can. By God’s Spirit you can. Can you give thanks in all circumstances? Yes, you can. Will you do it on the basis of how you feel, or on the basis of what you know? You must do it on the basis of what you know.

Let God’s truth transform your mind and your life. He’ll renew your mind and transform your life if you believe and apply His word. The result will be a new language. You will speak a new language. It’s the language of the Kingdom.

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