Words

It can be found that there are over 7,000 languages worldwide. The English language has 26 letters in the alphabet, which make up the words that we use to converse. Each word holding a unique meaning and value. 

We each have the innate ability to use words in any way that we want. When speaking, the mouth can spit venom or mince a broken soul. We can raise people up from the worse moment of their life or we can bring people down. This reminds us of Proverbs 15:4, “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Are you the soothing tongue or are you crushing the spirit? 

Paul writes in Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” This comes one verse after Ephesians 4:28 where there is a contrast between stealing and hard work.  Now Paul is contrasting corrupting speech with encouraging speech. In both cases, his intent is to explain how people need to make a conscious effort to live differently than in our pre-salvation days. Just as stealing is associated with evil, so also corrupting talk is associated with those who do not demonstrate Christ-like ways. Temptation and evil are all around us, it is how we respond to these situations that makes all the difference.

It does not matter where you are in your faith.  We must all understand that we have control over what we say. The excuses of “I couldn’t help saying it” or “someone else was thinking it, so I said it” must take discipline to not use. Only a small proportion of people suffer from medical conditions which interfere with control of vocabulary. Even then, people are expected to use as much control as they can. Christians do have control of our words, which are a powerful influence in how the world perceives us.

Instead of using "corrupting" or negative talk, Paul provides two guidelines for how to speak. First, we are to speak in beneficial ways about meaningful things to those who listen. Second, we are to speak in ways appropriate to the situation we are in. We must understand that what might be completely acceptable in one circumstance might be rude or unkind in another. The goal is to show grace to those who are listening to our words. We are not supposed to prioritize our own feelings, but make it our intent to help others through our words.

Remember, you are planting seeds when you speak, and at some point, you’re going to eat that fruit. So make sure you are planting the right kinds of seeds. You ca not speak defeat or negativity and expect victory or positivity. Instead, make bold declarations – declare healing, success, and new levels of faith. When you meditate on words of life, you’re going to reap a supernatural harvest of good things!

XOXO

Mark & Megan