How important are our words? Does it make a difference how we speak? Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Its so easy to quickly read over that verse and not take in its true meaning. I believe that this verse needs to be taken literally, and that it makes a huge difference in your life how you speak and what you say! God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, which means “father of a multitude.” Names in those days meant a lot to people. Everyone knew what your name meant. Can you imagine Abraham declaring in his old age that he was the father of a multitude when he was still childless? He must have looked foolish to the people around him. But God changed his name so that he would be declaring over himself the promise that he had been given. Every time he said that his name was Abraham, he was speaking God’s truth over himself! Our words are powerful! In James chapter 3, we are reminded that we can control a horse by putting a bit in its mouth. If you’ve ever ridden a horse, you know that it can only walk the direction its head is facing. If you turn its head using a bit, the entire animal is forced to walk in that direction. James makes this comparison in relation to controlling our tongue and choosing our words. Our life will follow the general direction of how we speak. When we speak negative words over ourselves and others, we are speaking death. But our positive words that contain the truth of God’s Word bring life! Proverbs 16:24 says “gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” This world wants us to believe the worst. The enemy wants us to be afraid and feel defeated, but God’s Word says differently. If you have accepted Christ as your savior, you are righteous! His grace covers you, and your sins will never be held against you! The Living God is on your side, and He wants the best for you! We need to reject the negative death-filled words that this world offers us, and instead speak positive, life-giving words that declare the goodness of God over us!
