Your Words Matter

Have you ever noticed that you can tell a lot about your walk with Jesus based upon the words you choose to use?

I find in seasons when I am not abiding in the Word, my speech is more critical and less wholesome. In contrast, I find that when I am spending time in the spiritual disciplines of reading the Bible and praying, the words that fall out of my mouth are more gentle and less harsh.

Words are so important. We long to know what a baby's first words will be. We long to hear words of affection from our loved ones. We put so much emphasis on word choice. Scripture urges us to be wise with our words, reminding us that our words have more power than we think they do. In fact, Jesus tells us "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45b). How convicting!

Jesus makes this statement during His famous Sermon on the Mount. Near the end of a long chapter detailing how we should treat others, He introduces the idea of bearing good fruit. To summarize, when we are abiding in Christ, we will produce evidence of our salvation. We know from later in Scripture that we only produce this evidence when we are connected to God and keeping His commandments. (See John 15)

Ephesians 4:29 instructs, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" (ESV). When we are abiding in Christ, our words will be used for encouragement and building up, because that will be the natural result of walking with Christ. Our words will be evidence to the world of the great gift we have in Jesus.

Sister in Christ, what does your choice of words tell an onlooking world about the contents of your heart? Do your words show that you are growing in Christ and going to Him daily as your life source? I encourage you, sister, to begin paying attention to the words you use. 

Our words tell others so much about us. Let us strive to make sure that our words tell them about Jesus.