THE POWER OF WORDS

Death and life are in the power of the tongue  Proverbs 18:21

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.  Ephesians 4:29

The tongue is powerful!  Isn't that the truth?  James 3:10 tells us that blessings and cursings can come out of the same mouth.  How true that is.  I want to be a blessing with my words, but sometimes the most hateful things can come from my mouth and I realize once again how powerful and untamed my tongue is.  Our words can indeed be a blessing or a curse.  They can hurt or heal.  They can encourage of discourage.  They can lift up or tear down.  They can build or destroy.  As Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue.  Words can be the death of a friendship.  Misunderstandings can escalate into unkind, hurtful, hot words and soon a friendship is dead.  Words can be the death of a marriage.  Many marriages are dying a slow death because tongues are  not guarded and one day words are said that cannot be taken back and a marriage is dead.  Words can be the death of a reputation.  Many people's reputations have been hurt or destroyed by mean words, critical words, slanderous words and sometimes lying words.   Like feathers to the wind words cannot be taken back.  But our words can also bring healing and life.  Have you ever been discouraged, at the end of your rope and ready to give up?  And then someone spoke words of life to you, healing words, encouraging words anid those words gave you new energy, a new attitude and a new determination.  I can remember so many times when I was discouraged and a note would come with healing words, or a telephone call would come with encouraging words.  Our words are very powerful.  How can we use our words to minister grace to the hearer as Ephesians 4:29 says?  Here are some things I've asked God to help me with:  1.  To remember that God will hold me accountable for every word I speak.  Matthew 12:33-37.  2.  To make a commitment that I will try to use only kind and gracious words that will build up and encourage.  3.  To focus on the positive and not the negative.  4.  To not waste time talking about things that can't be changed, or things that I am not a part of the solution.  5.  To ask questions.  To try and find out more about the other person and their feelings.  6.  To remember that sometimes the most gracious thing to say is nothing.  7.  To constantly check my heart because my words reflect my attitude and motivation.

Dear Father,  please help me to yield my tongue to You.  Help every word that proceeds out of my mouth to minister grace and encouragement to the hearer.  In Jesus name.  Amen