I was searching through some of our boxes of books recently and came across a book titled “Word fast” It’s all about watching the words we speak and fasting off particular forms of speech and ways we express ourselves so that we can develop in the way we communicate and deal with our hearts.
God also thinks our words are pretty important and cautions in His Word that we, “never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them.” (Ephesians 4:29)
I have a friend who has a way with words and a special way of putting these words to music to make a song. It’s a beautiful gift to be able to do that and a blessing to those who get to hear this music.
Yet, I think we are all capable of being people who, when we speak (or text, and write a message) others feel like they've been given a beautiful gift.
Our words can build up, encourage, love, and bring wisdom and grace with our words. Or with our words, we can tear down, destroy, hate, cause fear, and cut and wound people. In extreme cases, even have the ability to drive people away.
The bible gives us a key to having beautiful words and says that out of the mouth, the heart speaks. Meaning, in the condition of our hearts, rests the health of our words, so it’s important for us to deal with our hearts; to forgive quickly, keep out of the way of offence, and fill our hearts with those things that are good, true, praiseworthy, and worth thinking about. What we allow into our hearts and what we think about is what we will say.
“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” (Luke 6:45)
“So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23 TPT)
A helpful little acronym is to “THINK” before we speak:
T – is it True?
H – is it Helpful?
I – is it Inspiring?
N- is it Necessary?
K – is it Kind?
Today, consider the value to the listener of the words you speak. Please THINK before you open your mouth, and make your words those which your listeners will find beauty in and want to repeat.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up” (Ephesians 4:29)
Prayer: Lord, help me understand the power of my words and not underestimate how much good and bad my words can cause to myself and those listening to me. Please remind me to guard my heart, for out of my heart, my mouth speaks, and that my speech will be full of beautiful, life-giving words today. And “let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord.”(Psalm 19:14). In Jesus Name, Amen.