The Power of Words

 

I promise you on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken.

Matthew‬ ‭12:36‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Words are powerful tools that can be used for good or evil. They can inspire, encourage, comfort, and heal, or they can hurt, offend, curse, and destroy. 

Jesus taught that words are not only expressions of our thoughts and feelings, but also indicators of our spiritual condition. 

He said, "A good person brings good out of the treasure of good things in his heart; a bad person brings bad out of his treasure of bad things. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." (Luke 6:45 CEV)

Jesus also warned that words have consequences, both in this life and in the life to come. 

He said, "I promise you on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken." (Matthew 12:36 CEV) 

This means that we cannot take our words lightly, or use them recklessly, without facing the judgment of God. Every word we speak is recorded by God, and we will have to answer for them on the day of judgment.

What are careless words? Careless words are words that are spoken without thinking, without regard, and without love. They are words that are untrue, unkind, unhelpful, and unnecessary. They are words that harm others and ourselves. They are words that dishonor God and His name. Examples of careless words are lies, gossip, slander, insults, mockery, profanity, blasphemy, and idle talk.

How can we avoid speaking careless words? The Bible gives us some practical advice on how to control our tongue and use our words wisely. Here are some of them:

- Pray for God's help. Psalm 141:3 says, "Help me, Lord, to keep my mouth shut and my lips sealed." (CEV) We need God's grace and power to tame our tongue, which is a restless and evil thing. (James 3:8)

- Think before you speak. Proverbs 15:28 says, "Good people think before they answer, but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking." (CEV) We should weigh our words carefully, and consider their impact and outcome. We should ask ourselves, "Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it edifying? Is it pleasing to God?

- Speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4:15 says, "Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head." (CEV) We should not lie, deceive, or exaggerate, but speak the truth with honesty and integrity. We should also speak the truth with love, compassion, and gentleness, not with harshness, anger, or malice.

- Speak words of life. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Words can bring death or life! Talk too much, and you will eat everything you say." (CEV) We should speak words that give life, hope, peace, and joy to others. We should speak words that bless, praise, thank, and honor God and others. We should speak words that build up, not tear down.

In conclusion, words are powerful tools that can be used for good or evil. We should be careful not to speak careless words, but use our words wisely. We should remember that we will have to account for every word we speak on the day of judgment, and that our words reveal our heart. Therefore, let us pray with the psalmist, "May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you, O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer!" (Psalm 19:14 CEV)

Prayer:

Lord, I confess that I have often spoken careless words that have hurt You, myself, and others. 

I ask for Your forgiveness and Your cleansing. I pray that You would help me to control my tongue and to speak words that are pleasing to You and edifying to others. I pray that You would fill my heart with Your love, Your truth, and Your wisdom, so that my words would reflect Your character and Your will. 

I pray that You would remind me of the power and the responsibility of my words, and that I would have to account for them on the day of judgment. 

I pray that You would enable me to speak words of life, not death; words of blessing, not cursing; words of grace, not judgment. I pray this in the name of Jesus, who is the Word of God and the source of all life. 

Amen.

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