This morning, I invite you to think back for a moment - I want you to think of something someone said to you that you have never forgotten. Maybe it encouraged you, gave you confidence, or helped in a hard season. Or perhaps you can recall words that did the opposite, words that discouraged or wounded more deeply than anyone realized.
The truth is:
Words have power.
They stay.
They echo.
Realizing that words have that kind of lasting impact can be intimidating, but the good news is, as Christians, we’re not left to figure it out on our own. God gives us clear instructions throughout Scripture on how to use our words. Not just what to avoid, but how to speak in a way that reflects His heart - words that build, heal, guide, and bring life. So let’s dig deep into God’s Word and see how to choose our words with intention.
We have all heard the saying, “Think before you speak.” Well, today I want to turn the word “THINK” into an acronym that can serve as a filtering tool we use before we speak. Before we speak, asking these questions invites us to pause - and in the pause, we make room for the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, to provide wisdom and guidance.
T - Is it true? (Is this grounded in truth?)
Psalm 34:13 - Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies
Ephesians 4:25 - Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor.H - Is it helpful? (Will this add value - leaving them better than before?)
Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.I - Is it inspiring? (Does this bring hope, growth, encouragement, or point someone toward goodness?)
Hebrews 10:24 - And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.N - Is it necessary? (Does this actually need to be said right now - or at all?)
Ecclesiastes 3:7 - a time to be silent and a time to speak
Proverbs 29:11 - Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
Proverbs 17:27 - The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.K - Is it kind? (Is this being said with care, grace, and respect? Would I want these words spoken to me?)
Proverbs 16:24 - Gracious words are like honeycomb, sweet and healing
Proverbs 15:4 - A gentle tongue is a tree of life
In the first verse of Psalm 15, David asks the question, “Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?” David’s greatest desire is to be near to God, to rest in the shadow of His love. The words David sings/cries/speaks in the Psalms are an outpouring of his heart and soul. He is working through what is going on in his life, but these living, active words are meant for our lives. The next two verses in Psalm 15 are directly about how to use our words and are really the THINK acronym in scripture. We are called to do what is right, speak truth from our hearts, utter no slander, do no wrong to a neighbor, and cast no slurs.
Psalm 15:1-3
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?
Who may live on your holy mountain?
The one whose walk is blameless,
who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;
whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor,
and casts no slur on others;
As always, our good, good Father doesn’t just tell us how to do something, but he models it for us. God’s words consistently carry truth, purpose, and life. He guides and corrects with grace and love. In Psalm 23, we have the beautiful picture of how God leads and restores us, as a shepherd cares for his flock. Throughout Scripture, God continually builds us up with kind and inspiring words. He knows that the world/Satan loves to whisper words that make us feel inadequate, so God showers us with beautiful truths saying we are: Chosen (Peter 2:9), His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), Loved (Jeremiah 31:3), Precious (Isaiah 43:4), Treasured (Deuteronomy 14:2), Created for a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11). He fills us up from the inside out, so that our overflow will pour onto others. And in John 8:1-11, Jesus shows us the life-changing power of inspiring words. He shows grace to the woman caught in adultery and points her into goodness. These were simple words that had a lasting impact. So, God, our Loving Father, lavishes us with His love, sharing words that shape our identity and then invites us to be a reflection of His heart. In Psalm 15:2, it says, "The one who speaks truth from their heart". This one line is so convicting. Our words reflect our hearts. If our heart is bitter, then bitterness is what bubbles out. If our hearts are filled with fear, then anxiety shapes our words; …..the list can go on and on. This week, let's surrender our hearts to the Lord. Letting go of any untruths that are stuck there, and let God sing over you His life-giving words. Then, let’s hold ourselves and our tongues accountable.
This week, let our prayer be, Colossians 4:6 - That our conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer everyone. Let us pause and THINK, before we speak, for our words have power, they stay, they echo. Let’s use this power for good, to bless people, to build others up, and make this world a better place. Let us speak life and love into a world that so desperately needs it. Amen
