The choice of words make a huge difference.
What we say to our kids, our spouse, our boss, our friends and standing in line, the words we use are so powerful.
Sometimes we say words that shouldn’t be said.
Sometimes we omit words that need to be said.
In James 3, we find that words can change the course of life.
no man can tame the tongue, it is a restless evil full of deadly poison.
Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Ephesians 4:29
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.
Matthew 12:36
But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken.
I don’t know about you, but that scripture in Matthew is one that makes me wonder about the words I have used I didn’t realize were awful.
I remind myself to be careful, use words to help, encourage and build-up. Let’s not hurt, tear down and destroy!
Of course, words can change history.
When Jesus was on the cross and he uttered those three words, “It is finished,” it not only changed the course of your life and my life but literally changed the course of history.
Let me put a value on words for the sake of discussion.
Let’s say God gifts us roughly a million words to use in a year. Think of those words as a dollar bill and God says use these words wisely over the course of the year.
I reflect how carelessly I toss words and casually use them and make no real significant investment with those words. I pay no real attention to what I’m saying or what is happening. I know I wouldn’t be so careless to open my wallet and carelessly throw a handful of even one dollar bills into the wind, I have no idea where they end up.
Words can lose jobs, gain jobs, they hurt kids and love kids they can cast vision.
What we say reveals what is in our hearts. Of course in Matthew 12:34-36 we come to understand we can’t solve our heart problem, just by clearing up our speech. We must allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with new attitudes and motives, then our words will be cleansed at its source.
What if I take my million words and carefully and wisely choose? Plus, I ask God to help me speak each one?
