You’ve probably heard a lot of times that life and death are in the power of your tongue.
As God’s children, we should use our mouths to encourage, edify, build others up and speak the truth.
If you do a quick inventory check on the information you receive from television, radio, magazines, emails, phone calls, and conversations, how much of it is positive? The world has been through difficult times.
How many times have you been on social media, and a source tells you someone is dead, yet they are still living and well? This kind of misinformation created from a place of desperation gets people’s attention all the time. This kind of information can be damaging to the recipients.
I can’t imagine how those people feel when they find such news about them. Our words can tear down, cause wounds, and make it difficult for others to speak to us.
On the contrary, our words can heal and allow God to speak through us.
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body.
Proverbs 16:24
The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18
Our words can also heal, correct and convict others when used in a loving way.
Words used in prayer can allow you to build a prayer altar and find favor with God in how you pray for yourself, your family, and other loved ones.
Your words allow angels to ascend and descend when you need help.
What could you decree and declare today? May you be encouraged to decree and declare what heaven is releasing on your behalf and others too.
Do you remember in the book of Daniel when he prayed, and the angel Michael was sent to help him?
Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. Daniel 10:12
Jesus spoke to the Centurion at the same time his servant was healed.
The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. Matthew 8: 8, 13
Jesus cursed the fig tree, and this also proves that His and our words have power.
20In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” Mark 11:20-21
You may have a personal example as a burden bearer when you sense the need to pray for someone about a specific situation, you end up finding out that a person you know needed prayer, and you were obedient enough to open your mouth and pray.
The Times referenced a study that found women and men use roughly the same number of words a day — 16,215 words for women compared to men’s 15,669. A 2004 study found that girls spoke a negligibly small amount more than boys. Another from the same year found that boys spoke up nine times more than girls in the classroom.
Whether you are male or female or one who talks more or less, what is the ratio of your positive versus negative words? Do you talk with purpose? Our words impact us and those around us as they can bring others up or depress them. Luke 6:45 says, “Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts, but bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart.”
Have you ever taken any inventory of what comes out of your mouth?
What is the fruit of your words naturally and spiritually?
Whom can you encourage with kind words today?
How many words do you speak a day?
This exercise helps us think about what we should say before we open our mouths. You can shift the atmosphere with your positive words.
If you grew up in a home where you experienced verbal abuse, you may have believed the things said about you, or you may have believed lies. Once the enemy gets an opening, the verbal abuse recipient goes on to believe a vow that puts them in bondage which may, in turn, restrict them in their finances, health, and relationships.
If you grew up in a home where there was an exchange of negative words, you might find it difficult to express your needs or run as soon as you sense conflict within the conversation. It starts with a thought, and in turn, the words impact you physically, psychologically, spiritually, and socially.
The Mayo Clinic did a study that showed there is power in the words people speak.
Positive thinking provides health benefits that include:
- Increased life span
- Lower rates of depression
- Lower levels of distress and pain
- Greater resistance to illnesses
- Better psychological and physical well-being
- Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease and stroke
- Reduced risk of death from cancer, respiratory conditions, and infections
- Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
Some common forms of negative self-talk include:
- Filtering
- Personalizing
- Catastrophizing
- Blaming
- Saying you “should” do something
- Magnifying
- Perfectionism
- Polarizing
A study revealed the same thing when researchers experimented on plants. They placed the same plants in three separate rooms. In one room, kind words were spoken. In the second, harsh words were spoken. And in the third room, there was pin-drop silence. The results showed that the plants exposed to kind words grew a little more than the other two. What does this reveal?
“When words of love and gratitude were spoken near the water, water crystals formed beautiful geometric shapes. But when evil words were uttered near another sample of water taken from the same source, the crystals smashed and turned into destructed shapes,” says Tabinda Khubroo (2018).
If you encourage and edify, may you be encouraged to speak truth and life in the lives of others. If you have struggled to speak positively because of your history, there is hope for you. It is not too late to repent and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your mouth and lead you.
As God’s children and image bearers, you are called to speak life, edify, correct with love, encourage, and speak the truth and especially when the Holy Spirit leads you.
It is important to have respect and boundaries in your conversations. When you take the time to know people, you will get an understanding of what you should share with them. It is also important to know whether you should share some information about something or pray about it.
The timing is always important. Measuring your words is essential. Wisdom and discernment are crucial when you talk to someone you just met or are still getting to know. If the words you shared with someone in the past were negative, it is important to take the time to forgive yourself and repent so that your words do not hold you hostage.
The book of James also states, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ’No,’ ‘no.’” I believe this allows us to have authentic relationships and avoid making promises or vows.
Prayer
Father, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.
I ask for forgiveness for the words I used with _____________.
I repent for not speaking in the way you have called me to as your image bearer.
Give me a forgiving and repentant heart that is stayed on you.
May my words be seasoned with salt, full of encouragement, and edify others.
May my “yes” be “yes” and my “no” a real “no.”
Guide my tongue in moments when I should be silent, not overshare or just be a listening ear when a family member or friend needs someone who will listen to them.
I also pray for authentic relationships with those around me where we can speak truth to each other. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
References
Greve, J. E. (2014, July 16). Once Again: Do Women Talk More Than Men? | Time. Time; time.com. https://time.com/2992051/women-talk-more-study/
Khubroo, T. (2018, September 13). The science behind power of words – Daily Times. Daily Times; dailytimes.com.pk. https://dailytimes.com.pk/297417/the-science-behind-power-of-words-2/
Leaper, C., & Smith, T. E. (2004, November 1). A meta-analytic review of gender variations in children’s language use: talkativeness, affiliative speech, and assertive speech – PubMed. PubMed; pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15535753/
Sparks, D. (2022, February 3). How to stop negative self-talk. Mayo Clinic; www.mayoclinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950
Trinity Western University. (2004, June 21). Boys Speak Up, Girls Silenced in the Classroom. Boys Speak Up, Girls Silenced in the Classroom; www.newswise.com. https://www.newswise.com/articles/boys-speak-up-girls-silenced-in-the-classroom