Words have Power!

There is POWER in what you say. The words that you say. Will we speak words that BLESS and BUILD? Or will we speak words that do hurt and damage?

Our words can build up - or tear down. James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

James likens the tongue to a wild, bucking bronco, a storm-driven ship, a raging forest fire, a poisonous viper, a bitter fountain. The tongue can be a weapon of mass destruction, tearing down individuals, relationships, and even entire communities with a single thoughtless remark. Our words can bring HURT or HEALING…

The Bible tells of the tongue of the wise. Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. Your tongue can be hellish, or it can be wholesome. It’s up to you.

The Bible shows us how to Tame our Tongue. The best strategy, at times, can actually be to say NOTHING. Ecclesiastes 3:7 tells of ...a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. I have never been hurt by anything I didn't say. Calvin Coolidge.

Proverbs 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Words can be hurtful, destructive, lethal. Some seem to speak a lot of sarcasm, criticism, quarreling, fault-finding.

Tongue-control is a mark of spirituality. James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Our tongue can bless and heal, or it can do harm and hurt. Our words can encourage or discourage. Our tongue can give hope to the hopeless, or it can shatter hope.

The Bible gives us a list of the seven worst sins. Three of the seven are sins of the tongue. Proverbs 6:16-19.

The Lord shows us what to avoid... Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

How much better to speak words that are wholesome and wise. Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Your words can have impact. They can be weapons of mass destruction. On the other side… your words can have impact for the better. Learn how to give words that will encourage, comfort, inspire, and edify. Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
What should we speak of?

Psalms 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Psalm 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Psalm 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

Proverbs 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Proverbs 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

Words are powerful - they can curse or they can bless. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue… We need to assume responsibility for every word we speak. Choose wise words.

Let us choose our words wisely, and let our speech be seasoned with grace. Let us speak words of love, kindness, and truth, and let us always seek to bring life and not death, healing and not harm, with the words we speak.

Psalm 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.