The Lord has once again been speaking to me about the words of my words.

The power we possess right under our noses is astonishing and how we use it has tremendous impact on the lives of others and our lives as well.

Proverbs 18:21 ESV

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

What we say to others will have an effect, one way or another. Either our words will build others up and encourage them or it may kill something deep inside of them. Our words can build another’s sense of worth and confidence, helping them to become all that God designed them to be. Or a sharp word may hit them hard, rocking them off center or perhaps slowly eroding something deep inside of them. Little by little or all at once our words make break open the spillway just like we have seen here in N. Ca. A dam may break that has been holding everything in place.

The Lord gave me a warning dream a few years ago, someone wanted to meet me to tell me what they were upset with me about. I was certainly planning on meeting them until in my dream I saw them enter the coffee shop and when they saw me they took out a gun and pointed it in my direction! I knew that there would be no real gun but I also knew the Lord was warning me to wait and let them cool down. The picture has always reminded me that our words can be like bullets and bullets can kill.

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit Proverbs 15:4

Our words reveal what is in our hearts.

Jesus said that “the good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him” (Matthew 12:35)

Last year I shared with you the picture the Lord gave me when I did a similar teaching. It was a picture of a juicy orange. When you open up an orange that is full of juice you have to be careful not to squeeze it or you get squirted! You see, whatever I have stored in my heart, under pressure may just “pop” out weather I want it to or not! Have you ever experienced that? When “hit” or “squeezed” especially when we don’t expect it we may have said something we later regret.. This picture reminds me to be careful to continually build up my spirit in the word of God! Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks..

What to do if you happen to be in the line of fire of another’s thoughtless words? One of my mentors, Beth Lasker, taught me years ago the virtue of silence. In cases where we are unjustly accused or someone is carless with what they say to me it is best to be silent and just take it to the Lord, not to anyone else…If there is resentment on our part I simply need to repent and pray for them, it is a wonderful way to wash away any ill effects and keep the enemy from having any access to my minds and heart.

I love this excerpt from a note by Joyce Myers:

“What Happens When We Speak?

The words that come out of our mouth go into our own ears as well as other people’s, and then they drop down into our soul where they give us either joy or sadness, peace or upset, depending on the types of words we have spoken.

“ When we understand the power of words and realize that we can choose what we think and speak, our lives can be transformed. ”

God desires that our spirit be light and free so it can function properly, not heavy and oppressed. We can learn to choose our thoughts, to resist wrong ones and think on good, healthy, and right ones. I have often said, “Where the mind goes, the man follows.” And it could also be said that where the mind goes, the mouth follows!

When we understand the power of words and realize that we can choose what we think and speak, our lives can be transformed.”

Lets choose to speak life!

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 10:11a).

Our words bring health:

“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

‘A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4

Our words bring wisdom:

“The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook” Proverbs 18:4

Our words build up another :

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.” Ephesians 4:29

This week I am challenging myself to fill my mind with the word and to ask the Lord to show me ways to speak life into those around me.

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” Psalm 141:3

Next week I want to take another look at the words we speak and how they move they are able to move the mountains in our lives.