Words Matter

​As a kid growing up, I remember, and you may too, the little rhyme “Sticks and bones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Cute. But shame on our parents for lying to us!
Words can hurt. Deeply. Haunt us. For a long time.
On the flipside words can heal. Make a positive difference in our lives that lasts for a lifetime.
As a Christian who loves the Lord, His Word and the country I am blessed to reside in, I am very concerned for our culture. Our words toward one another hurt more than heal.
What I call moral rot is imploding our society. Good, godly character is absent in so many. Though the economy is at all-time highs, private and public moral behavior has sunk to all-time lows. Our deeds and words in so many quarters are absent of dignity, decency and plain old respect for God and people made in His image.    
Sadly, and to our personal and national shame, our words are riddled with ridicule. Peppered with vile, virulent, vicious and violent connotations. Our words for others have degenerated into disgusting, disrespectful, demeaning, belittling, cruel, crass, crude, rude, profane speech. How easily people hurl insults, cast aspersions, falsely accuse and assassinate reputations and character with hateful speech. Our words, if we are not careful, can marginalize, vilify and even demonize others.
America doesn’t have a grammar problem. Education won’t solve the spiritual problem we have of speaking evil from evil hearts.  
Does it matter that your words matter? Yes, it does. Words have tremendous power to make or break relationships.
The Bible has some definite things to say about our words. Here are just four references worth thinking and praying about.
“Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21
“But no man can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come blessing and cursing, My brethren, these things should not be this way.” James 2:8-10
“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” Luke 6:45
“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29
Straight talk huh? Little comment necessary.
What if you and I were diligent and disciplined to speak words according to Paul’s guidelines in Ephesians 4:29? Gracious words. Kind, caring words. Words that build up and encourage. Words that support. Words that extend people the benefit of the doubt. Words that bring out the best in others. Words that spur others on to success.
If we would return to the Lord (II Chronicles 7:14) and speak godly words to each other,  revival could commence. A refreshing wind of spiritual, emotional, and relational peace, joy and unity would sweep across the fruited plains!
I will pray and vote for that!  
Watch Your Words

• If you are a professing Christian, do your words and speech line up with scriptural truth, righteous principles and godly words in the Bible?
• Before you open your mouth to say something, ask yourself:  Will my words build up or tear down, encourage or discourage, inspire of deflate, bless or curse?
• Ask those who love you and know you best what they think of your words. Listen humbly. carefully and sincerely. Make adjustments where necessary.
• When you use words you shouldn’t, repent, turn away from them, ask the Lord to forgive you, then make things right with people who your words hurt.
• Ask the Lord to help you overcome bad habits concerning words you use that do not honor Him and dignify people. Swearing like a sailor is not a badge of honor. Pure speech is God’s will for His people (Ephesians 5:4). If you have a “potty” mouth, clean it up!
• Guard your heart so your words will be good, not evil.
• Tame your tongue. May your words be a fountain of blessing, not a cesspool of cursing.
• Be a person of your word, good words, from a good heart!

A personal word from me to my fellow Americans: Clean up your words. Wash your mouth out with soap like my mother did to me when my words didn’t please her. I can still taste the Ivory soap between my teeth!  My friends, let’s return to days of dignity and decency with our words toward one another.
Words are a blessing or a curse. Which will you choose? Words that bless or words that curse?
“Words that do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.” Mother Teresa
A Word For Your Week: Watch your words because your words matter.