My eight-year-old grandson has an amazing vocabulary. He is especially well-versed in words that are found in video games, Disney cartoons, and action movies for kids. There is nothing wrong with the words he speaks, but they are worldly words. Most of us learn our manner of speech from family and friends as we grow up. We learn what words are appropriate around what group of people.
In the Message Bible, Matthew 5:21-22 says, “Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire.” The simple moral fact is that words kill. So, we also learn that words can hurt, and deeply. We don’t realize what power words have until we meet THE Word. Then we learn to speak with wisdom.
“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.” I Corinthians 2:6
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” I Corinthians 2:13
One thing I have had to learn over the years, and which I still must practice, is making my words match my beliefs – my faith in Him. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says, “It is written: ‘I believed; therefore, I have spoken.’ Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak.”
When I believe the words in the Bible, my own speech should match those words, not contradict them. The Bible teaches us that God CAN NOT lie. Every word in the Bible is true. Speaking these words back to Him, and to ourselves, is the highest and best form of speech. These words are living, active, and powerful.
Since this is February, the month of Valentine’s Day, I’m thinking about the words I speak to my husband. I must admit, when I was first married, the words I spoke sometimes were used to provoke an argument. I used my words to manipulate or to try to gain attention. It has taken the Holy Spirit some time to align my words with God’s way of speaking. Now, thankfully, MOST of the time, I try to speak words of gratitude, appreciation, and encouragement to my sweet husband. I’m just so thankful that he put up with the growing pains over these years.
God has given us such a wonderful array of words to use, and these words we speak are meant to be encouraging to others – and to ourselves. God is always calling out the best in us, calling us His children, naming us saints, and encouraging us in every possible way. He wants us to use our words in this same way with others.
“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.” Ephesians 4:29
Let’s allow Holy Spirit to continue to bring graceful, wonderful words out of our hearts through our mouths, both toward others in our lives and toward ourselves.
We want to thank Sheri Warren for sharing this post.
Women's Ministry 