The Words We Speak

The words we speak tell others what kind of person we are. What we say to others can be what makes them want to keep on trying or what makes them want to give up and quit. Our words, whether carefully chosen or freely flowing, have the power to make a difference in someone’s life for good or for bad. When we criticize wrongfully, judge prematurely, and talk inappropriately, we often show others just how we truly feel. There’s no truth in the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Words do hurt people and we’re all guilty of using our words to hurt others from time to time. Those who have learned from experience to be a bit more careful with their words have learned a great thing. Those who have not still have much to learn. There are many Bible verses related to using our words appropriately and we would all do well to study them from time to time and even memorize some of them on occasion. When we replace negative words with God’s word, we fill our minds and hearts with words that will both help us and encourage others.



God’s word says in I Peter 3:10-12 “Whoever wants to love life and see good days should keep their tongue from evil and their lips from speaking lies; let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and go after it, for Yahweh God watches over the good and hears their prayer. But the face of Yahweh God turns against those who do evil.” This verse clearly tells us that the words we say do matter, even to God.



James 3:2-11 further tells us that “We all stumble in many ways. And if anyone doesn’t stumble in what they say, they’re perfect and can control their whole body. If we put bits into horses’ mouths so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also; though they are very large and are driven by strong winds, they’re guided by a little rudder wherever the captain wants to go. So the tongue is also a small member, yet it brags of great things. How great a forest is set on fire by just a little flame! And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin. The tongue is put among our members, spoiling the whole body, setting on fire the whole course of life, set on fire by Hell! Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish can be tamed by humans, but no human being can tame the tongue. It’s a restless evil, full of deadly poison. We bless our God with it and then turn around and curse people who are made in the image of God with it. From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My children, these things ought not to be so.”



The words we speak do matter and we all should try to tame our tongues a bit more than we do. The Psalms and Proverbs are full of verses that will help us to tame our tongues, so if you are having trouble controlling the words of your mouth, you would do well to study these books and mark those passages that you feel may benefit you in your efforts. If you don’t have time to read all of them, then here are a few verses that may help you.



Psalms:

1. 4: 2-4,

2. 5,

3. 7: 14-16,

4. 12:2-4,

5. 15: 1-3,

6. 17:1-3,

7. 19: 14*,

8. 31:18-20,

9. 33:1-2,

10. 34:1-3, 12-17,

11. 35:19-28,

12. 36:1-4,

13. 37:12-13, 30-31,

14. 38:13-14,

15. 39:1*,

16. 40:9-10,

17. 49:3

18. 50:14-21

19. 51:12-17

20. 52:1-5

21. 54:6-7

22. 55:12-13,16-17, 21

23. 56:1-6

24. 57:4

25. 59:11-13

26. 62:3-4

27. 63:3-4

28. 64:1-8

29. 66:1-4, 17, 20

30. 69:4-9, 30

31. 71:6-18

32. 73:8-9, 28

33. 74:18-23

34. 75:4-7

35. 77:1-3

36. 78:1-4

37. 101:5,7

38. 102:8

39. 105:1-3

40. 106:25

41. 109:1-5, 17-20

42. 116:1-2

43. 119:9-16, 41-48

44. 119:171-172

45. 120

46. 139:1-4,19-22

47. 141:3-4*