There, I said it.

Air silenced by the slicing sting of words.

Backed up words I wanted to say but hadn’t.

Angry words spoken from a place of hurt.

Words that wound.

In response to scripture that says I am accountable for every idle word, I joke, “I am going to be before the Lord a lonnnng time.”

My tongue can be a sharp sword and it’s by far my greatest sin struggle.

I make light of it when what I really feel is shame.

Shame for hurting people I love.

Shame for not having better self control.

Shame for claiming Christ, then speaking in ways that deny His love.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26

 I have a thing about being called “religious” so in the NLT (New Liz Translation) I substitute the words Christ Follower and testimony.

 Those who consider themselves a Christ Follower and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves and their testimony is worthless.

I can’t bluntly tell someone off, put them in their place, give them a verbal spanking then tell them (or anyone else who’s watching) how the love of God has changed me.

Words have power.

Power to hurt and power to heal.

Life and death.

Heaven or hell, blessing or curse.

God spoke the world into existence.

He calls Himself Word.

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

 We are made in God’s image, in His likeness. Our words aren’t meaningless. They create, build and tear down.

Communicate love or hate.

Some of the hardest battles I fight are to scrub words off my soul.

Words someone said to me – someone careless like me, long ago.

Words that scar and linger.

Words that affect how I view myself and navigate the world.

The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life. John 6:63

 Words are spirit.

The Bible tells us to take every thought captive.

Thoughts become words, then actions.

Actions words activate.

God said, “Let there be light” and there was light.

We are created in His image – our words carry power as well. What is spoken creates energy and action.

What I believe determines my speech, actions and life. Click To Tweet

The placebo effect proves it.

When people are given a pill they believe is real one of two things happen.

Symptoms either improve or they experience side effects like dizziness and vomiting believed to be associated with the drug.

The pill is fake – a sugar pill, but it still has an effect based on the person’s beliefs about that pill – positive or negative.

Our beliefs and speech steer our lives.

Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. James 3:4

 We can see the effects of words manifested in water, plants, food. (click word to view video)

What I believe determines who I am and the life I live.

Speak life, speak blessing.

It’s Biblical, it’s real, it’s important.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ.

Speak truth in love.

Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

May kindness be in my heart and on my tongue.

Whoever desires to love life and see good days, keeps their tongue from evil and lips from speaking deceit.

Seek peace and pursue it.

Encourage.

Listen.

Show courtesy.

Anger never produces the righteousness of God.

Rash words are like sword strikes – cut and slice.

Spirit soul bleed.

Set a guard over my mouth and watch over the door of my lips.

A soft answer turns away wrath, a gentle tongue a tree of life.

Self control is it’s fruit.

By my words I am justified and by them I am condemned.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be an acceptable offering pleasing to God.

Thankfulness and praise.

God so loved the world He gave His only Son.

Gave so that whoever believes in Jesus receives eternal life.

Believe and receive.

Confess with my lips that Jesus is Lord.

Testify so others might also believe.

Jesus is the way, the Word made man – Spirit Word.

Let His Spirit fill my heart and let me speak life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6