WORD POWER
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:29-30
Some time ago, I received a letter from a TV viewer in New York. He is a retired police officer, whose mother had just passed away. He was really hurting and asked for prayer. I wrote him a handwritten note of encouragement. This is what he wrote back:
I cannot thank you enough for your kind letter and blessed words of encouragement and support. Losing my mom to cancer has been devastating for me, but your comforting words that you took time to write out and personally sign mean the world to me. I framed it, and it hangs on my living room wall. Thank you so much. —Anthony
Reading that note from Anthony reminded me anew and afresh regarding the power of our words. Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” How true that is!
FOR DEATH OR FOR LIFE?
- Now here are some sobering, thought-provoking questions:
- Do you use your tongue to speak life or to speak death?
- Do you use your tongue to build up (edify) or tear down?
- Do you use your tongue to bless the Lord or grieve His Spirit?
- Do you use your tongue to gripe and complain or praise and give thanks?
- Do you use your tongue to infuse with faith or poison with doubt?
I think many of us are grossly unaware of what really comes out of our mouths. Some of us have become so accustomed to speaking words of negativity, criticism, and faithlessness that we don’t even realize what we are saying. We don’t realize the damage we are doing to our loved ones, our friends, and ourselves. Surely, we fail to realize how our rotten words grieve and hurt the Spirit of God.
Oh, make no mistake about it: He hears every word that comes out of our mouths. Jesus said, “Every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).
HOW TO FIX IT
If you desire to honor God with your words and speak life with your tongue, let me encourage you in two ways.
- Focus on your heart. Rotten words reveal a rotten heart because, “the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart” (Luke 6:45). Spend quality time in God’s Word, and let His Word cleanse your heart.
- Find a trusted friend who can hold you accountable with your speech. Let that friend know they have the green light to call you on the carpet anytime they hear you whine, gripe, complain, gossip, lie, tear down, and speak general words of death and negativity over your life, your spouse, your marriage, your kids, your parents, your church, your job, and your future.
There is great power for good or for evil in that tongue of yours. Let’s make a conscious effort to use our tongues for good, for God, and for the building up of others.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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