Choose Words That Speak Life

 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Proverbs 18:21 ESV


This proverb holds immense truth: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Our words have the profound ability to either wound or heal, to encourage or criticize, to build up or tear down. They leave lasting scars that can influence our decisions for years to come. Words have consequences.


Consider the story of Numbers Chapter 13. The Lord instructed Moses to send twelve men to scout the land of Canaan, the promised land. Out of these twelve, ten returned with a disheartening report, instilling fear in the hearts of the people.

 Numbers 13:32-33 says, “So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.””


Naturally, upon hearing this distressing report, the people began to complain and express their fear. Perhaps they tossed and turned all night, consumed by anxious thoughts. They complained against Moses and Aaron, as recorded in Numbers 14:3-4: “Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.””

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Go back to Egypt! Go back to slavery! Had they forgotten the abuse they suffered? Had they forgotten how they cried out to the Lord and He heard their prayers and brought them out of their suffering?


It is all too easy for us to be swayed by the negativity and fears of others. It is easy to forget all that the Lord has done for us and to disregard His promises.


Then there’s King Hezekiah in 2Chronicles 32:7-8, who when the King of Assyria was coming to attack them told the people, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”


Two things stood out to me from this verse. First, Hezekiah’s words instilled confidence in the people. He encouraged them to trust in God and not be afraid. Second, it emphasized that God is on our side and fighting for us. In Isaiah 41:10, God promises to strengthen, help, and support us. So, when we feel discouraged, like giving up, or when we feel like nothing ever changes, let’s remember God’s faithfulness and His promises. He is fighting for us!


There’s also King Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah.  He was faithful to the Lord and encouraged others to do so as well. There was an army coming up against Judah and Jehoshaphat was afraid but he sought the Lord! He didn't get all panicky and look to everyone else for advice, he sought the Lord. He called the people to fast and he prayed. He reminded God of His character and His faithfulness to them in the past. He admitted their weaknesses, that they didn't know what to do but their eyes were on the Lord. They waited for God to show them how to handle the situation. And God responded! He told them not to be afraid of this great hoard that was coming against them, for the battle was not theirs but the Lord’s. Jehoshaphat directed the people to believe the Lord and they would be established! (See 2Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

 He encourages us to do the same. Believe God is who He says He is. Believe His promises!


In James 3:6-10, we are reminded that no human being can tame the tongue. This is a powerful reminder of the importance of using our words wisely. It’s easy to jump to conclusions, react impulsively, and misinterpret comments, leading to unnecessary conflicts. When someone hurts us with their words, our first reaction may be to retaliate. However, instead of fighting back, we should take a deep breath, remember that hurting people hurt people, and not take everything they say to heart.


Paul instructs us in Ephesians 4:29 to use our words wisely, avoiding “corrupting” talk. Instead, we should use our words to build others up, encourage them, and offer grace to those who hear.


Our words have the power to either uplift and encourage others or tear them down. As we’ve seen in the examples I’ve shared, the impact of our words is significant.


























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