Speaking Life-Giving Words

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” Proverbs 10:11

During the Church service on Sunday, at the time when the Pastor encourages the congregation to walk around and greet a few people welcoming them to Church, one of the people I greeted was an older Christian lady I admire. She approached me with a warm smile and hug as usual and immediately began to speak words of affirmation to me. She literally spoke life into me because the more she spoke the more I stood up straight, the more the smile on my face widen until it finally spread to my heart. My confidence was boosted, my self esteem higher and even though this whole conversation did not last more than a minute, it planted and watered seeds of life that are already growing and will bear much fruit.

She started by complimenting my jacket which I mentioned was a lovely hand-me-down and heirloom from my Mum. Then she used that as a point of contact to speak words of encouragement. Affirmingly, she said to me not only do you look great in that jacket, but you are also powerful, you are confident, you are a great and mighty woman of God. You take charge, you have the life of Christ in you. You are an inspiration to others as you fulfil your role in the body of Christ.

This reminded me of what Paul said to Titus about how older women are to relate to younger women in the Church.

Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Titus 2:3-5 (MSG)

Can you image how many lives we would change for the better if we utilized every opportunity, big or small to speak life into those we interact with? All it takes is a few minutes of genuine encouragement to change the trajectory of another person’s day and even life.

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18

Just as encouragement comes from spoken words, discouragement too can come from spoke words. This is a reminder to weigh our words because once spoken, they can not be taken back. We can only apologize for words ill spoken but can not withdraw them.

May the Holy Spirit help us to put a guard over our mouths and be careful what we say! And we are reminded by Jesus that our words originate from inside our hearts.

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” Matthew 12:34–37 (ESV).

So how can we as Believers ensure that our hearts are filled with good treasure that will then be brought forth through our mouths? We get the answer to this pertinent question in our guide the Bible.

I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I may not sin again You. Psalm 119:11

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you. Colossians 3:16

When we are constantly consuming the Word of God that we are full of it, storing it in our hearts, this is what will come out of our mouths.

Consider the incredible impact your words will have on others and choose to soak up God’s word daily, storing it up in your heart and meditating on it day and night, so that you are always equipped and ready to speak life giving, building, encouraging and exhorting words at every opportunity.