Life Changing Words

"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, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:29-32)

These are life changing words if we could just grab hold of them. What if our mouths were used to build and not destroy? What if we could be encouragers instead of discouragers? How many marriages could be healed? How many broken relationships could be restored? What if we changed our conversation to line up with this admonition?

How would it change your work place? How would it change your conversation at lunch? How would it change your conversation at church? How would it change the words you speak to your children? How about the words you speak in front of them? Would it make you the person who leads the conversation instead of you becoming the follower that allows it to go places you don't like? Could you be the gossip squelcher? 

Since faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, how would this effect your faith? You will never listen to anyone else as much as you listen to yourself.

Words of Life

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24)

Your words can be powerfully used for ministry. I've always found it interesting how so many people's conversation tends toward the negative.  A little of that goes a long way. It drags on your soul and weighs you down. It's the people who live Proverbs 16:24 that I enjoy being around. We all have people like this in our lives -- those people who, after you have spent some time with them, leave you feeling encouraged and built up. You too can be that person just by making some changes to you conversation and being quick to offer up a word of encouragement.

This is not about vain flattery or an exercise in self-esteem. It's about speaking the truth according to God's Word. We are inundated with negative talkers and naysayers all day long. Don't be one yourself!