Words are powerful tools in the right hands and destructive arrows in the wrong hands. Listen as author Karen Ehman shares what she’s learned about the power of speech to tear others down or build them up.

Karen shares some strong tips on recognizing the power of your words:

• If you’re eager to bring a word of correction to someone, you’re probably not the right person to do it.

• We each earn the right to speak into someone’s life. If you’re not in a position of credible counsel, wait and pray.

• Memorize Scripture and use that to combat issues with anger, gossip, lying, or sarcasm.

There are four questions to ask before posting something on social media:

Is this comment wise?

Will writing this comment help me display God’s love to outsiders?

Is this comment full of grace and seasoned with salt?

Have I asked God if this is the best response?

There is a strong connection between prayer and speech.

“I get sloppy in what I say because I haven’t been spending time with God. When I’m not intentional about asking God to meet me in this issue, I kinda wing it. And then I have regrets. If I haven’t asked God to bring things to my mind before I say them, it doesn’t seem to work.”

Karen gives some strong guidance when it comes to honoring those around us.

“We feel like we can let loose on our family because they have to like us. They become easy marks, and they should be the ones we love on the most. They’re the most important people in the world to us, but they can be the ones we communicate poorly to.”

Karen’s book is .

Key Scriptures: Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 10:19; James 3:1-12

Featured Songs: Same Power by Jeremy Camp; Unashamed of You by Chris August; Simplicity by Rend Collective

Highlight : To confront or not to confront?

Taming the tongue

This program has been previously aired.