Digging Deeper James 3:6

I ended last week with this statement:

Have you ever noticed the entire mood of your home can be turned around by some kind words? Or the opposite? A pleasant day suddenly goes sour because of some careless or hurtful words? Our words are very powerful, not just on those around us but on us as well. You can make or break your mood by the words you say to yourself. This is a very important principle. The verse said it can stain the whole body. The NKJV says "defiles the whole body." Ladies, as we complain or whine or rehearse hurts, we are heaping those very things back on our own heads, reinforcing them in our minds over and over. We inadvertently strengthen the very things we are trying to be free of.

The opposite is also true. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

Speak truth to your heart and it will breathe life into your soul.

James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

Points to ponder
So many things come to mind relative to our tongues. We can cause much hurt with our tongues or we can bless and encourage with our tongues. Do we use our words to bring life or death?

Here are some ways we can bring death:
Sarcasm, gossip, nagging, deception, idle words or coarse jesting, insisting on making our point, telling it "like it is"- speaking truth without love, inappropriate humor, grumbling and complaining, and criticism just to name a few.

Here are some ways we can bring life:
Speaking the truth in love, encouragement, edification, blessing, instruction, exhortation, admonishment, rebuke, comfort, and appropriate humor are a few examples.

So today, how will you use your words, to build up and bless or tear down and discourage? You chose.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.