JANUARY 23, 2021
TAKEN FROM OUR DAILY INSPIRATIONAL NEWSLETTER

HELEN SANDERS
1-23-2021
GUARDING OUR WORDS

Words are very powerful. The scripture tells us in Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Some of us are eating the fruit today of what we spoke last week, last month or even years ago.

If we realize that every word that we speak either brings death or life, we might be more careful what we speak. Our words put things into action, either positively or negatively. We should filter what we say through James 1:19 where it says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren (Christians), let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” If we took this to heart, there would be less arguments, less “tactical clean ups”, perhaps less violence and even murder, all caused by words spoken.

God doesn’t want us to be in the dark about our mouths. He has given these scriptures to protect us from pitfalls. You see, Satan is a legalist, and he uses our words against us. When we speak something even in jest, like “these kids drive me nuts,” or “I could just kill you”, or “this is never going to work”, or “you’ll never change.” This gives Satan a legal right to come against you or the person that you speak about. None of these phrases bring life, do they?

How do you change the habit of speaking “death”? Holy Spirit will nudge us when we shouldn’t say something. He knows your thoughts and words before you speak them. If you entertain a thought that isn’t godly, and are about to speak it, there will be that nudge. If you observe these “nudges” and know it is God trying to tell you to be “slow to speak”, then you will change. If you ignore these “nudges” then eventually you stop hearing the leading of Holy Spirit. T

his is true with swear words, anger, and any other words we speak. Even flattery can be a source of discord. We are told in Psalms 141:3, “Set a watch (guard), O Lord before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Literally this is saying put a watchguard on our lips to keep the door of our mouths from opening when it shouldn’t.

Is this easy if you haven’t been the best at doing it? No, but God will help you. If you have been negligent or deliberately speaking things that bring death, and genuinely want to change, then repent. Ask God to forgive you, and He will. Then pay attention to the nudges and your words will change. You will then be bringing life and not death from your words.