James 3:4–6 (NLT)
“And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire… It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.”
I used to say all the time that I could write a whole book on what I’ve been through in my life—and I’m not even in my senior years yet. But lately, I’ve been thinking… if every word I’ve ever spoken had a title, if every sentence I’ve ever said turned into a story… what would my book say about me?
They say the average person speaks thousands of words an hour—and apparently, some folks claim women speak twice as many as men. Whether that’s fact or just folklore, one thing is for sure: our words matter. Every single one of them. The things we say become the library of our soul, filled with chapters that reveal who we are, what we value, and what we truly believe.
Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) says it plain: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” This verse packs a punch. It means the words we speak aren’t just empty sound—they carry spiritual weight. They build or break, heal or harm, sow peace or stir chaos.
Think back to Jericho in Joshua 6. God told His people to walk around the city in silence for six days. No murmuring. No side conversations. Just silent obedience. Then on the seventh day, they shouted in unity—and the walls came crashing down. That was divine strategy. Victory came not just through movement, but through surrendered mouths. Their silence had purpose. Their words had power.
That lesson is still relevant for us today. Sometimes, the strength God wants to see in us is the strength to be quiet. Other times, He wants us to open our mouths with boldness and speak truth—but only when our hearts are aligned with His Will.
James 3 paints a vivid picture of just how powerful the tongue really is. It compares our words to a spark that can set a whole forest on fire—a small thing with major impact. And isn’t that the truth? We’ve all been there—letting something slip in a moment of anger, fear, or pride, only to wish we could pull it right back. But once a word is spoken, it takes on a life of its own. It can either stir peace or ignite destruction. That’s why it’s so important to pause and ask ourselves, “Is what I’m about to say going to heal or harm?” Because the truth is, even one careless sentence can shift the entire atmosphere of a conversation, a relationship, or even a household. But when our words are surrendered to God, they can become instruments of healing, clarity, and strength.
Luke 6:45 (NLT) gives us a clear picture: “What you say flows from what is in your heart.” In other words, our words are like mirrors—they reflect what’s really going on inside. But here’s the good news: the Holy Spirit knows how to deal with both our heart and our mouth. If we’ll allow Him, He’ll gently teach us when to speak, how to speak, and when to stay quiet and let Him move. With His help, we can use our words as a powerful instrument for God’s glory. And every day, we get a fresh opportunity to do this—one conversation, one response, one surrendered moment at a time.
So if your words have ever gotten ahead of your wisdom—if you’ve ever said something that left damage in its wake—take heart. You’re not stuck. You’re being shaped. God isn’t looking for perfect speech; He’s looking for a heart willing to be transformed. And when our heart is yielded to Him, our words will begin to reflect His love, His wisdom, and His truth.
Let this be your reminder: the tongue may be small, but it’s never powerless. Yield it to God, and you’ll set your life on fire—in the right way. ■
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.
“Words That Set Your Life on Fire”, written by Kim Times, edited by Rev. Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.