Choosing to Speak Life
By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe
Proverbs
18:21 declares that both death and life are in the power of the tongue. We are cautioned many times in scripture to
guard our mouths. However, throughout
the ages, we seem to have forgotten the power of our words. The reason we have forgotten the power of our
words is that we have not regarded the source of that power.
In
the beginning, the power of the spoken word was evident when the Lord spoke
into the formless void and created the universe. We are created in His image, and in that
image is the power to create through the words we choose to speak.
We
live in a world where incivility abounds.
As children we often chanted, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but
words will never hurt me.” We chanted to
hide the fact that words spoken to us had crushed us. In truth, broken bones heal more quickly than
damaged emotions.
The
Spirit of God is grieved when our words create pain and anguish for others and,
therefore, for ourselves. In Ephesians
4:30-32, Paul directs, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you
were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness,
wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God in Christ forgave you.” (NKJV)
Simply
put, God is pleased when we choose to create life with our words.
Proverbs
10:11 reminds us that the “mouth of the righteous is a well of life.” Our words can heal. (Proverbs 12:18) Our
words can bring joy and gladness. (Proverbs 12:25) Our words can impart grace
to others. (Ephesians 4:29) Our words allow us to stand in the presence of God.
(Psalm 15:3) By our words, we will either be justified or condemned. (Matthew
12:36-37.)
The
Word of God encourages us to speak the word of God over ourselves and others so
that we can more fully walk in His image.
We can choose to begin each day with a declaration of life. The psalmist proclaimed, “This is the day the
Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
We can follow the course Jesus himself
prescribed for us in Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say to you, love your enemies,
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those
who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons
of your Father in heaven.” (NKJV)
If
we are seeking the “good life”, we must speak blessings over ourselves and
others. “For He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his
tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10 NKJV).
We have the freedom to speak words
that bring either life or death. I pray that we will choose to speak life.
