by Karla Perry

Created on: January 05, 2009   Last Updated: April 08, 2011

Our words have power to curse or to bless. I remember in my youth I was rebelliously adamant about not doing something my mother wanted me to do. I regretfully proclaimed I would rather be sick than do what was asked of me. The next day I came down sick with a nasty stomach virus. I will never forget the power of my words.

I am reminded of when Jesus spoke to the fig tree that ceased bearing fruit and it withered and died at His command. In contrast, He spoke to Lazarus who was dead and buried four days and he came back to life obedient to the words of life. God spoke all of creation into existence. He breathed life into Adam.

If the God who created us used words to bring the world into being, would it not follow that we who are created in His image have the power of life and death in the tongue? I have seen small children light up like a Christmas tree when they are given praise and I have seem the wilt and withdraw when they are spoken to with contempt. The old schoolyard chant says that "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." The truth of the matter is that those words reverberate in the mind long after the schoolyard days. The bruises and broken bones will heal faster than the spirit bruised by an abusive tongue. Forgiveness is the healing balm to those wounds.

I have seen modern day healings when a few life giving words were spoken. I have seen people encouraged by a few prophetic words given to them at the opportune moment. I have seen discouragement and depression leave with a simple prayer.

Each of us can choose how we will use our tongue. However, it is out of the heart that the mouth speaks. What you fill up with is what will come out. I love the verse Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things." When we fill up on what is true, right, pure, noble, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy we internalize these things into our hearts and it is from that well-built-heart that our mouth will speak in kind. However, if we fill up on the negative things of life, it is from there that we will speak.

We read in Colossians 4: 6 to "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt. . . " When we spend time with God our hearts will be full of His truth and all the good things we are to think about. We will thus supernaturally overflow good things in our speech when we are full of His Spirit. If our heart is properly aligned with Him our tongue will certainly follow suit.

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