What comes out of our mouths reveals the depths of our hearts, especially in times of stress and challenges. “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45, NIV84) When times of testing come, and they will come, the effort to build our hearts will be revealed by the words of our mouths.
It is the desire of God that we spend our time learning about Him. As we learn who God truly is, we grow in trust and hope. Hope in God never fails. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13, NIV84) Those who spend time with God display joy and peace even as confusion and tumult surround them. Those who spend time with God find that they grow in power to overcome every challenge through the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes when a test or trial comes, we discover that what comes out from our mouths are the words of self pity. No one likes the struggles that come our way. However self-pity is the expression of a lack of faith and trust in God who promises that He is with us in all things. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35–39, NIV84)
Sometimes when things fail to go the way we expect, our words are used to express frustration. Frustration is nothing more than hidden anger and is always expressed at someone, either ourselves or at another person. Frustration is anger that our expectations were not met. Frustration expresses a lack of trust that God works out all things for good. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NIV84)
Sometimes our words begin to express confusion and doubt. We wonder about the reason for our existence and the purpose of our days. Doubt is the opposite of faith and confusion demonstrates a lack of wisdom. We must choose faith and seek God in every moment including those we do not understand. In times of testing we must remember that indeed God wants us to seek HIM. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV84)
Relationships are strengthened and people grow because of words. “I love you.” “You did well.” “You are blessed.” “I know you can do it.” These words of encouragement build people. Relationships are also broken and destroyed by words. “I can’t believe you did that”. “You never do anything right.” “You are stupid.” Our words carry life or they carry death to the people around us. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21, NIV84) Our words are the direct expression of the value that we see in people.
We are admonished to take care with the words we speak. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29, NIV84) The word unwholesome speaks of harmful words or words that case decay and degeneration. The word good speaks of that which brings people to excellence. The word benefit speaks of building and strengthening. We are commanded to not allow words that bring decay to come from our mouths but only words that build.
Sometimes the person we are building in faith is ourselves. Sometimes the pep talk we speak is given to ourselves. David found that to be true. He was in a season of loss and distress. No one around him had anything good to say, so David decided to encourage himself. “NOW WHEN David and his men came home to Ziklag on the third day, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid on the South (the Negeb) and on Ziklag, and had struck Ziklag and burned it with fire, And had taken the women and all who were there, both great and small, captive. They killed no one, but carried them off and went on their way. So David and his men came to the town, and behold, it was burned, and their wives and sons and daughters were taken captive. Then David and the men with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (1 Samuel 30:1–6, AMP) If no one around you is speaking good about you, then you speak good about you. You will be agreeing with what God says about you.
Sometimes the person we are building is the person who will become a leader to many. Moses was told to encourage Joshua. “But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it.” (Deuteronomy 1:38, NIV84)
Choose today to use words that build and encourage. You will find that your strength will grow and the people around you will grow as well. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:4–6, NIV84)
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