The Incredible Power of Words
By Sheryl R. Sellaway, Chief PR Strategist at Righteous PR
Relationships obliterated. Reputations ruined. Employees terminated. Companies out of business. Nations destroyed. These are a few of the outcomes that occur when words cripple, wound or destroy people. However, when used as God intended, words can speak life over situations, cause relationships to thrive, companies to flourish and faith to soar. Words control our world. It’s been this way from the beginning. God’s word from Genesis to Revelation is made up of words that encourage, edify and enlighten. It’s up to us to determine how we will live by the words we use. Words have incredible power.
Today, there are immeasurable opportunities to misuse words. Unfortunately, there is insurmountable damage done every day by those who use words to viciously attack, falsely accuse and purposely undermine others through bullying, canceling, false advertising, lying, gossiping, manipulation and slander, to name a few. Thankfully, there are many heroes in our culture who thrive on delivering good news, sharing joy, dispensing creativity, using music to minister, growing faith through stirring sermons and authors who write wholesome books to entertain, educate and take us on a journey. God holds each of us accountable for how we use words. The Holy Bible contains many verses that provide wisdom about how we should use our words. Here are just a few scriptures to live by:
1. Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3
2. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24
3. The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking. Proverbs 15:28
Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. Proverbs 10:19
4. If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 1 Peter 3:10
5. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
6. Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
7. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself and your religion is worthless. James 1:26
Lord, help me to use words carefully, to agree with you, run from the devil’s tricks and schemes, bring every thought into captivity, align with you with by my words and meditate on the word of God day and night to speak from a clean heart. Whenever I am tempted to use words fatally, help me to call on the name of Jesus. Amen.