Today’s post is a post I wrote back in 2017, but I wanted to reshare because the message is so important today. Words Matter – The words we say have meaning and once they are out – there is no way to put them back in or take them back. We are left to deal with them. So, in this post I reflect on if my words are helpful or hurtful.
James 3:5-6 (TPT) “And so the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries great power! Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze. 6 And the tongue is a fire! It can be compared to the sum total of wickedness and is the most dangerous part of our human body. It corrupts the entire body and is a hellish flame! It releases a fire that can burn throughout the course of human existence.
Words hurt.
That is the truth. It doesn’t matter if I said them to someone, or someone said them to me.
Can you relate? Someone chooses to use reckless words in the heat of an argument and you instantly feel the crushing blow in every fiber of your being. You feel so insignificant, so small, so cut down by the words someone else has spoken.
As I read the words of James 3:5-6, I am reminded of what my very own tongue can actually do; even though it’s a small part of my body. My tongue has the ability to make a huge impact on everyone around me…good or bad. So, I have to ask myself a question, how am I using my words?
Here’s a question for you, have you ever said something to someone and once the words were out, you wish you could take them all back? I sure have. I have carelessly used my words to inflict pain. I know for a fact that’s not the person God wants me to be – or I even want to be. God wants me (and you) to use the words that come out of my mouth to build people up and ultimately build a bridge to Him.
But, in the heat of an argument it’s easy to spew angry and hurtful words at someone. Just because I’m angry doesn’t make the words less damaging. God’s word says “People speak the things that are in their hearts.” (Luke 6:45 NCV)
YIKES!
When I let my words carelessly “run rampant” it’s a display of those things that are in my heart.
DOUBLE YIKES!
What words have you said lately that don’t reflect the love of Jesus in your heart? Have your words been full of anger, jealousy, bitterness, rudeness, and gossip or have they encouraged those around you and brought glory to God?
I know I have set people “on fire” with the words that have hastily come out of my mouth…and that makes me sad. The last thing I want to do is bring a paralyzing blow with my words. I want my words to be full of love and life. When people hear me speak, I want them to hear the goodness and kindness of Jesus.
But how? I am hiding the God’s word in my heart (memorizing scripture) and praying that I can change the contents of my heart. I know that If I work toward replacing my thoughtless words with God’s word, I am disciplining myself to speak words of grace, truth and life.
Father, help me to hide your word in my heart so that when I speak, the words that flow will be full of love and grace. Forgive me for any careless word I have spoken to others. Help me to replace “words of death” with “words of life.” Amen
Additional scripture:
Proverbs 12:18 (NIV) The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 15:4 (NIV) The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 18:21 (MSG) Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.
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