James 3:10-12 (NLT)
“10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.”
We should never underestimate the power of the words we speak and the impact they have on our lives and the lives of others. Many of us don’t realize that in some ways, we are where we are in life this very moment because of the confessions and words we’ve spoken in the past. Colossians 3:8(ESV) tells us, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Some of us have an appetite for the very things that block our blessings. We’ve spoken things that were not Godly, loving or kind, and we used our years on this Christian journey as an excuse to do it. Our words have created a barrier, not a door, and we’re going to have to turn this around.
As women of God and sisters in Christ, we can’t say whatever we want to say, whenever we want to say it, but some of us made a habit of doing this. It’s become so embedded in the way we converse and communicate with others that we hardly notice it anymore. Our manner of speaking as a mean tone and is seasoned with years of bitterness. We must wake up and recognize how much this way of operating has stolen from us.
Pretty clothes, luxurious furs, and designer shoes can’t cover up the heart of a woman who is arrogant and refuses to change. The times are too perilous, and the consequences of impure and profane words are far too costly. Galatians 6:7(NLT) tells us, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” God has set up the universe in such a way that whatever we sow into it is coming back to us, and will do so in greater portion than what we sowed. A farmer understands that from a tiny seed, a hearty fruit tree is produced. In this same way, we must understand that a few bad words can produce a harvest of weeds that will overtake our gardens of beauty and vitality.
James 3:12 tells us that “You can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.” God doesn’t make the spring salty; we do if we speak words that are flavored with gossip, arrogance, and profanity. Not only should we not speak words like this, but we shouldn’t listen to them either. When you begin to comprehend the importance of the words you speak and how they have framed many of the situations and consequences you’ve faced in your life, you will want to be as far as you can from anyone that has an undisciplined tongue.
More times than I’d care to remember, I’ve said things that hurt the people I care about. When I was angry or upset, those hurtful words flew out of my mouth before I could catch them. I didn’t give myself the opportunity to think before I spoke, and I said something that I couldn’t take back. I’m sure many of us have done this in the past, but as we mature spiritually, this should happen less and less.
I heard someone state that they didn’t care what others said about them. If you live long enough, you will come to realize that this isn’t entirely true. Words do hurt, and they can leave a lasting sting that carries painful memories for years after they’ve been spoken. In our significant relationships, some of us have spoken words that emasculate the man in our lives. By doing this, we’re punishing them, ourselves, and the relationship needlessly. We must stop doing this because it sets us up for failure.
God commands us in Ephesians 4:29-31(NLT), “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.” God will be pleased, and we will turn our lives around, when we learn to speak and communicate in a way that brings glory to Him. We must train ourselves to think before we speak, then we can build bridges and not tear them down, and the rich blessing of God’s favor will be in all that we speak and do. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Let Your Words Bless Others”, written by Kim Times, edited by Fran Mack and K. Stephens for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2023. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!