Have your words ever hurt someone?
Have you been hurt by words that cut deep into your soul?
First, a few Scriptures about the tongue.
1 Peter 3:10 ESV For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
Colossians 4:6 ESV Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Proverbs 15:28 ESV The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
Matthew 15:11 ESV it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Proverbs 26:20 ESV For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Proverbs 18:21 ESV Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 15:1-2 ESV A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (2) The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
James 1:19-20 ESV Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; (20) for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
If you have ever been on the cutting side of someone's critical, accusing, or condemning words you know that it hurts emotionally, mentality, and relationally. These words are seeds planted that if left alone to grow could cause a lifetime of pain. If we know how it feels to receive these types of words then we should be careful that we don't become a part of the problem and sow the same destruction which we have had the misfortune to receive.
Therefore, we need to make a daily willful choice to pray about our words. Out of our mouth comes blessings or curses, life or death, and we speak from the abundance of the heart.
PRAYER OF DECISION:
Father, in the name of Jesus, I make the quality decision to take control over my words.
I renounce every bad seed planted by the words of my mouth. I end the process of failure, sickness, lack, and fear. I choose to forgive those who seeded those things in my life and I renounce them now and place them and the power they have had over me under the blood of my Lord Jesus Christ. In the Name of Jesus I refuse to be held captive and be a victim by the words of others. I forgive and declare freedom. I speak the same freedom over those whom I hurt by my words.
Lord, put a watch over my lips. I am determined to speak the Father's covenant promises; Words of love, words of joy, words of faith, words of peace, and words of grace, from this time on.
I will fill my mouth with God's Word throughout the day, and He will have total control of my life.
Amen---So Be It!