Your Words Matter More Than You Think.

Did you ever say something you wish you could take back? Come on, we are sure you have.

Did you ever hit the send button on a text or email that you wish you could recover before it reached the person you sent it to? This has surely happened to us.

Our words are so important. What we say and how we say it can have such an impact on our relationships with others. Our words are so powerful that they can impact a person’s life for years after they are spoken. The impact our words can have on building trusting relationships with others is beyond measure.

The words we speak are SO important.

Take a quick moment to reflect on the memories of those in your past who spoke words of encouragement and the impact they had, versus those who spoke words of discouragement or hurt and the impact they had. A big difference, with an impact both ways, can last for years.

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21

So much good can be done with our tongues, and at the same time, so much damage can be done with our tongues. It can easily go either way if we are careless in what we say and how we say it.

The tongue can encourage, it can forgive, it can speak truth, it can convey love, and respect. At the same time, the tongue can criticize, gossip, destroy trust, and ruin reputations and relationships.

It is estimated that men, on average, say roughly 10,000 – 15,000 words a day. With that many words spoken, we had to ask ourselves, are we being as thoughtful with our choice and use of words as we should be?

With our daily relationships, our spouses, our kids, our co-workers, are we failing to really think through the lasting impact our words can have on others? Do we get flippant and careless? YES, men, our words and how we use them have a powerful impact on our relationships. This verse drives that point home:

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

BOOM! 👊 There it is. RED LETTER EDITION WORDS. 

We will be judged by the words we say and how we say them. Serious stuff! With this in mind, we often stress the importance of being quick to listen and slow to speak. We know this verse well and have it highlighted. The question remains: are we living it? Are you?

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” James 1:9

Seriously, when we find ourselves in a tight spot with our wives, with our kids, and with our friends, after being careless with our choice of words, have wiser words ever been spoken?

As we leave you with something to ponder this week, think about your words, how you use them, and the impact they can have.

Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Focus on this as you start each day.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful in building others up according to THEIR needs, that it may benefit those who listen” Ephesians 4:29