The audio for this devotional is not available for now, but you can have your device read it to you.
Reading options
Verse:Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. —Psalm 19:14
We are called by God to proclaim the everlasting gospel in a world full of eloquent and convincing voices. To effectively fulfill our mission, we should pay attention not only to what we say (the content) but also to how we say it (the method).
According to Ellen White, “We may have knowledge, but unless we know how to use the voice correctly, our work will be a failure. Unless we can clothe our ideas in appropriate language, of what avail is our education? Knowledge will be of little advantage to us unless we cultivate the talent of speech.”24 In 1999, the Brazilian Society of Laryngology and Voice chose April 16 as the annual day to celebrate the phenomenon of voice. Three years later, in 2002, Portuguese laryngologist Professor Mario Andrea, president of the European Laryngological Society, suggested that April 16 should receive much wider attention, and it became World Voice Day. Its aim is to demonstrate the enormous importance of the voice in the daily lives of everyone, encourage them to assess their vocal health, and persuade them to improve or maintain good voice habits.
A classic example of how personal effort can help us overcome speech problems is Demosthenes (384–322 BC), the greatest of ancient Greek orators. Plutarch, the Greek historian and biographer, relates that “Demosthenes had a speech defect, ‘an inarticulate and stammering pronunciation.’” To overcome his problem, he “built an underground study where he exercised his voice, shaving half of his head so he could not go out in public.” During this time, he practiced by “speaking with pebbles in his mouth and by reciting verses when running or out of breath. He also practiced speaking in front of a large mirror.”25 Are there any aspects of your own voice and speaking skills that you need to improve? God can use us despite our human limitations and weaknesses.
But by combining good techniques with perseverance, we can overcome many of our speech deficiencies. You and I should consecrate our voices to God, avoiding self-exaltation, and always use them to glorify God and uplift humanity.