WORDS BRING LIFE OR DEATH

Words have the power to bring life or death to a situation. They build power on how they are utilized, what is conveyed, and how they are received, such as in conversation between friends and family. Words can bring encouragement and life into a person or crush them by bringing discouragement, cruelty, and defeat. Therefore, you must be cautious about the words that flow from your mouth, as they can either bring life or death to hope, dreams, self-esteem, or relationships. 

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words” Proverbs 18:21 (AMP)

This is a powerful Bible verse to embrace in both your personal and professional life. Think about single words that instill high emotions or responses that can and have made or broken a person: LOVE, HATE, FREE, YES, NO, ALIVE, DIED, SURVIVED, FOUND, DIVORCE, SAVED, LOST, CRASHED, or WON.  Those fourteen words can convey a wide range of emotional responses depending on how they’re received or given. They can make a serious impact on someone’s life.

When we have conversations with our family and friends, they can get a little heated; we’re human. The verbal punches below the belt get thrown.  It’s sparring time with our words. Everyone wants to express their opinions or the “real” side of the story without pausing to think before speaking. Even at work, we can disagree with a co-worker, client, or management. We get careless, then words shoot out of our mouths so fast that the next thing we’re saying is “Oh boy, what did I say?” You regret immediately what you said, but it’s out there.

So how can our words encourage life? Here are a few simple tips you can implement to watch your words to build people up and not tear them down. Wait or pause before speaking. Don’t be in a rush to give a response back. This reduces anxiety and stress. If we can speak 100-160 words per minute, why don’t we wait a minute or two to contemplate what we are going to say before we do?

Get a grip on your emotions and tongue. If you don’t have control of yourself, angry words flow easily. It takes the same amount of time to say something cruel as it does to say something respectful.  “Don’t let any foul words come out of your mouth. Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say” Ephesians 4:29 (CEB).

Control your thoughts. Your mind can race faster than we can speak. It’s already on the next words it wants to say before you finish the words you’re saying. Your mind is looking for ammunition to help your mouth win the fight. No one will be a winner.

Be respectful by listening twice as much as speaking. Use the listening time to understand and get control of your words and actions. Choose your words to encourage others by saying uplifting, supportive, and understanding words. Comments such as “I appreciate you”, “I believe in you”, or “You did a great job” are all encouraging words.  Implement these tips daily. Y? Why Not!