Our words are another area where the fruitfulness of our lives should become evident. Words are powerful. They can build or destroy. They can heal or wound. .
“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.”
— Proverbs 15:4 (KJV)
They can encourage or discourage.
They can restore hope or create despair.
The Bible says that death and life are in the power of the tongue.
This means that our mouths should become instruments of life.
Spiritual maturity should change the way we speak.
A person can sing worship songs on Sunday and destroy people with their words on Monday.
A person can quote Scripture while constantly using their mouth to gossip, insult, criticize, and discourage others.
God wants our speech to reflect Christ.
Before speaking, we should ask:
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it helpful?
Does it honor God?
Will it build the person who hears it?
This does not mean that we should never correct people or speak difficult truths. Jesus spoke truth. But even His truth was guided by love and wisdom.
A fruitful mouth produces words that bring life.
Imagine what would happen if your family, colleagues, friends, employees, children, and church members consistently encountered encouragement and wisdom whenever they heard you speak.
Your mouth can become a garden from which people gather strength.
Let your words produce fruit.
Reflection
- What kind of fruit do my words produce?
- Do people feel strengthened or diminished after conversations with me?
- Is there a habit of gossip, criticism, anger, or careless speech that I need to surrender?
Prayer
Father, put a guard over my mouth. Teach me to speak words that heal, encourage, correct with love, and build others. Remove careless, destructive, and ungodly speech from me. Let my words become instruments of Your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Daily Declaration
My words produce life.
I speak with wisdom and grace.
I encourage rather than destroy.
I speak truth in love.
My mouth is an instrument of God's goodness.
Amen.