In this broken world, the loudest voices are often the voices of discord and descent. Discouraging talk can be heard anywhere. It is more natural for us to use our words to find fault, than to express thankfulness for the evidences of God’s grace we see in each other’s lives. 

If it is true that our words reflect the state of our heart, our unkind and bitter words reveal a deeper problem. Matthew 15:18 is a clear description of the state of each of our hearts: “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” When our heart has been changed by the goodness and grace of God, our words will be a reflection of it as we speak words that are helpful for building others up and that bring grace to those who listen.

The mouth of the righteous is a life-giving fountain but the ungodly speak words of death and poison. The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil. (Proverbs 15:28)

Our hearts are deceitful above all else so we need the Lord to help us to guard our hearts. Every day we need to be praying about the state of our heart and asking God to protect us from speaking words that are dishonoring to Him. With our mouths we can build up or destroy, strengthen or tear down. Our words have the power to bring life or death, joy or despair. By what we say we spread either truth or deceit.

May the Lord help our words to be filled with the grace and kindness of Jesus as we grow to know Him more. As our hearts are continually changed, the words we speak will continually reflect that change. Let us seek the Lord for the strength to be slow to get angry and the wisdom to bring our frustrations to Him first. We need the Holy Spirit to help us to know when it is time to speak up in love and when it is best to simply entrust ourselves and our concerns to God.