Death and life
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
We have an incredible power God has given us through our words. With our tongues, we can either build up or tear down, bless or curse, speak life or speak death.
Proverbs 18:21 makes it clear that words carry significant weight. In the beginning, God spoke the world into existence. Words have creative power. Just as God used words to create, we too use words to shape our reality and the lives of others.
Like how a word of encouragement can lift someone's spirit, or how a harsh criticism can crush it. Words can heal, restore, and build bridges, but they can also wound, destroy, and create barriers. The words we speak reflect the condition of our hearts, and Jesus Himself said in Matthew 12:34, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
To speak life is to align our words with God’s truth and His purposes. Speaking life means choosing words that encourage, uplift, and build faith in others. It means using our speech to glorify God and to edify those around us.
When we speak life, we are sowing seeds that will bear fruit—fruit that reflects the character of Christ. Encouragement, kindness, truth, and love are the fruits of life-giving words. These are the words that bring healing to the broken-hearted, hope to the discouraged, and strength to the weary. In a world filled with negativity, our call as believers is to be conduits of God's life-giving power through our words.
On the other hand, speaking death is to use our words in ways that bring harm, despair, and destruction. Gossip, slander, lying, and cursing are all forms of speaking death. These words sow seeds of discord, bitterness, and division. They have the power to wound deeply and create long-lasting damage.
James 3:6 warns us, "The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness... staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." When we allow our tongues to be instruments of destruction, we align ourselves with the enemy, who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.
Our words have consequences, If we sow words of life, we will reap a harvest of blessings, peace, and righteousness. Our relationships will flourish, and we will experience the joy of knowing that our words have brought life to others. However, if we sow words of death, we will reap a harvest of strife, broken relationships, and regret.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be intentional with our speech. Before we speak, we must ask ourselves, "Are my words reflecting the love and grace of God? Will they bring life or death?" We must surrender our tongues to the Holy Spirit, asking Him to guide our speech and to give us the wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent.
In conclusion, the words we speak have the power to shape our lives and the lives of those around us. Let us choose to speak life, to build up rather than tear down, and to be vessels of God's love and grace in a world that desperately needs it.
God bless you.
Prayer key :
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of your word today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, make our tongues instrument of righteousness that brings life and healing to people in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, help us not to bring death unto people and ourselves through the words of our mouth in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.