Fruit of the Lips

Last night I read a scripture in Isaiah that used the words "fruit of the lips". Then just this morning I read "the fruit of lips" in Hebrews. Both times, those phrases stood out to me. How odd that I would read that before bed, and then immediately when I woke up...once in the Hebrew Scriptures, and once in the New Testament.

I was intrigued, so I grabbed my Amplified Bible to see if it would help me understand those verses a little better. Both scriptures (in this version) included thankfulness and praise.

"...I create the fruit of his lips, and I will heal him [make his lips blossom anew with speech in thankful praise]." -Isaiah 57:19 

"Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name." -Hebrews 13:15

God is really doing a work in me, cultivating thankfulness in me. I find that I am praising Him more and more. But thankfulness is something to be practiced. It doesn't always come naturally.

My friend read this to me last night (from: A Holy Experience - How to find God in the Messes?)
"The discipline of thanks only comes with practice. When we practice giving thanks, we practice the presence of God, stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes.
We don't have to change what we see. Only the way we see."

I want the fruit of my lips to be beautiful and real. Full of thankfulness and praise...constantly! I pray that they will crowd out the worthless words. Words of ungratefulness and complaining. I think that as I focus on thankfulness, that will happen. Overcoming by replacing. And all of this, by His grace!