THE POWER OF THE WORDS WE SPEAK

  
November 28, 2020                       THE  POWER  OF  THE  WORDS  WE   SPEAK
1 Peter 3:10 “For, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongues from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.”
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but speech as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.”
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Proverbs 15:4 “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
Matthew 15:11 “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of the mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Proverbs 12:18 “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Matthew 12:36-37 “I tell you, on the day of judgement, people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
I am sure we would all agree that words are powerful, and we would all agree that we have spoken some words we wish we could take back. We all acknowledge that words are powerful, but do we weigh our words before speaking is the question. We normally hear the negative side of this issue-how our words can tear down, but our focus can and should be on the opportunity we have to speak life, to encourage, to build up, to lovingly admonish, and to bring healing. Because our words flow from what is in our heart, it is critical that our hearts be turned to the Lord. It is impossible to over-emphasize the power of our tongue. (Someone recommended a book to me titled “The Forty Day Word Fast.” I’m sure I will be challenged as I go through the process. Maybe you want to check it out.) Let us take opportunities to choose carefully the words that we let proceed from our mouth, because “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
Blessings,
Buddy