Now, I believe we’ll have greater success with this if we concentrate on what we should be doing with our mouth, rather than focusing on all the things we shouldn’t say. It’s self-defeating to go around saying things like, “I shouldn’t do that … I’d better not do this …”
I want to encourage you to really listen to yourself and locate yourself. Where’s your heart? The Bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (see Luke 6:45). We need to stop saying, “Oh, I didn’t mean that. I was just kidding.” And we need to start being accountable for the words we speak.
The truth is, the things we say come from something that is formed in our heart. So you can determine where your heart is by listening to yourself. You can hear bitterness and jealousy…insecurity and unhappiness.
How do you talk while you’re going through a hard time? Or when you don’t get what you want? Remember that what you say reveals the real you!
Changing the way you talk will change your heart.
Do you need a change of heart? All of us do. We all have room to grow in our relationship with God. And the way to make progress is to speak His language. When you do, you’ll:
- Bless everything you can possibly bless. The Bible says we have the power to bless or curse with the words of our mouth. (See James 3:8-10.)
- Be thankful and say so (See Psalm 100:4). Don’t just think about how much you appreciate someone—tell them!
- Be an encourager. Make an effort to give someone an encouraging word every day.
- Tell the truth!
- Speak the Word of God. Recite and memorize verses that deal with things you want to change or overcome, such as anger, unforgiveness, insecurity…
- Stop talking too much. Be quick to hear and slow to speak (See James 1:19).
God wants you to pray and ask Him to help you use your mouth to say the right things. When you do, it will change your life!
