I was going through a rough patch recently, and boy, was I down in the dumps. All I could think about was this hard season. All I was talking about was this hard season. It was consuming me.
I was listening to a podcast one day when I heard somebody say “What if the reason you’re tired all the time is because you complain about being tired all the time? What if the reason you struggle is because all you talk about is struggling?”
The day after listening to that podcast, at church the sermon was titled “The Words of My Mouth.” You can imagine how red my face turned. I may have even slid down in my seat a little bit.
Yeah, the Lord was talking to me loud and clear. Needless to say, I was silenced…
Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” At first glance, that might sound like an exaggeration, but when we stop and think about it, it’s absolutely true. Words shape people. Words shape relationships. Words even shape the direction of our lives.
That’s why Scripture urges us over and over to watch our speech:
-James compares the tongue to a small spark that can set an entire forest on fire.
-Paul tells us to let no corrupt word come out of our mouths, but only what builds others up.
-Jesus says that we will give account for every careless word spoken.
Our words are like seeds. Every time we speak, we’re planting something, either life or death. And eventually, we’ll “eat the fruit” of what we’ve planted. If my words are constantly negative, I will find myself surrounded by bitterness and negativity. But if my words are filled with life and truth, I will find a life aligned with God’s purpose.
The words of your mouth matter. Make sure you’re speaking life.
Rays of Sunshine inc 