Remember the old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"? Well the Bible tells us that words have great power and the things we say can mean either life or death. The Epistle of James tells us that we can say very hurtful things out of our mouths that can cause great damage in the lives of others and in our own lives. "But the tongue no man can tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." James 3:8-10. How many times have you said something to someone to hurt them, then wish you hadn't said it? We can't take back words that we speak out of our mouths, but we can allow the Holy Spirit to have control over our tongue. We need to practice being slow to speak, don't blurt out the first thing that comes in your mind. Will it be pleasing to God? How will it affect those around me? Do I really need to say what I am about to say? How many of us stop and think before we speak? I Peter 3:10 says, "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile."
The thoughts that we think in our minds become the words that we speak out of our mouths. When we have our minds filled up with Word of God, that will be uppermost in the words that come out of our mouths. Our words are alive, they can change things, people, situations, circumstances, and the atmosphere around us. If you want a good change, think good thoughts and then words that build up and edify will come out of your mouth. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29. NIV.
We must be so very careful about the words that we speak into the lives of our children. No matter how they act, speak words of encouragement, words that will make them feel good about themselves. So many children hear nothing but cursing and words that tear them down, telling them they are no good, and will amount to nothing. And why are we surprised when they end up living that kind of life? "The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit." Proverbs 15:4. NIV. Change the way you speak, let your thoughts and conversation be filled with the Word of God. There is nothing more life-changing than the Word of God. It is power packed with faith, love and hope. When we speak these words into our own life and the lives of others, watch conditions change, circumstances, situations and people. "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6. NIV.
