How Are Your Words?

“How Are Your Words?”

By Zach Wood

Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)

“Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

From the time I get up in the morning to the time I go to bed, I’m sharing words with various people throughout my day.  Whether I’m chatting with my beautiful wife, my precious kids, people at work or friends and family, I’m using words to communicate with them.  Whether I’m doing by talking in person, on the phone, texting or e-mailing, I’m using words to share something.

No matter how I’m communicating, one thing I always want to keep in mind and close to my heart is how I am using my words.  Am I doing my best to encourage other people when I talk?  Whether that’s with family, friends or people at my job, I want to say encouraging things.  As hard as I do try, I find myself often becoming frustrating at different people for various reasons and not sharing words of kindness or encouragement. 

We all have good days and bad days of using words.  Sometimes we are encouraging others and then other times, we are tearing people down with what we say.  We know there are many Scriptures throughout God’s Word that encourage us to speak with love and kindness toward others. It’s such a simple concept, yet is probably the hardest thing to sometimes do. 

We use so many words each day in our conversations.  I want to ask you if you are really thinking about what you say each day in every conversation you have with others?  Are you doing your best to be kind even when the person you are trying to communicate with is upsetting you?  Can you still share kind words even when they are not shared with you by another person?

All we can control is what we say to others.  Our words to others can be so powerful in a good way or very powerful in a destructive way.  What way are you choosing each day in each conversation?  Are you finding yourself constantly getting irritated and using negative words with your spouse, kids, friends, co-workers and family?  If so, then maybe you need to take a step back, think through your words and change how you talk.

Words are powerful.  God wants us to use our words in a powerful way to bring Him praise by encouraging and lifting others up.  This reminds me of a phrase that I’ve heard so often, yet is so hard to put into practice, “If you can’t say anything good, then don’t say anything at all”. 

How are your words?