The Power of Our Words
When I was a teenager, we had a family friend who would jokingly comment that he would die at 40 from a heart attack. He did and without any health warning.
Another woman commented about how poorly her child drove and that a car accident was likely-This happened, and the mom would boldly boast that she “told him so.”
Over the years, I have frequently heard innocent or “funny” comments from people about how an accident or a bad situation would occur, all while making conversation. Then to their surprise, the exact thing they spoke of would happen. Is this a coincidence? Not at all; this is a biblical principle that people do not understand, and they must.
Let me share the power of the tongue regarding the words we speak, focusing on three books in the Bible.
Proverbs
This entire book is full of great advice on living right. I recommend reading it all. Here are some highlights about our words in Chapters 13, 15, and 18.
Proverbs 13:3- “Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”
Proverbs 15:2 states- The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouths of the fools pour forth foolishness.”
Chapter 18:7 - “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” and verse 21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
The words ruin, destruction, snare, and death all heed a warning. It would be wise for Christians to take the advice in this book alone and watch the words we speak over ourselves and our loved ones.
James
“The Untamable Tongue” is an appropriate title for James 3. James compares leading a horse with a bit placed in its mouth and a small rudder to drive a sailboat in fierce winds to the tongue and its power. The tongue is a tiny part of the body, like a bit or rudder, and it also controls the direction of our lives. This comparison alone should speak volumes for us about managing our words.
James 3:8 states, “No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
We must ask Jesus daily to help us control our tongues and what we say, even in idle chatter, which we think is harmless. We need to understand the power of our words and our need for our Heavenly Father to help us identify when we cross the line with our speech.
Matthew
In this book, there is also a warning about words spoken. Here are two scriptures that drive the point home.
Matthew 12:36-37- “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.”
And 15:11-Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
Pay attention to the words that you speak. Watch what comes out of your mouth and rectify with faith words when you may utter words of concern or destruction. This biblical wisdom contradicts what the world says is true but is the secret to God’s abundant life for you. The time has come to speak life-affirming words over you and your family.
John 10: 10- The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.
Read more on this in the book below.