I Prayed have prayed
Lord, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to You, God.
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Be careful little mouth what you say, be careful little mouth what you say, for the Father up above is looking down with love, so be careful little mouth what you say.”

 

This song, one I learned as a small child, came to mind today as I thought of a friend who had just been hurt by the words of someone she loved.

Words are powerful things.  The book of Proverbs says, “life and death are in the power of the tongue.” You can bring life with your words or you can pull the life out of someone with your words.  Let us not, as Christians, fail to keep a daily watch over our words.

I had a friend who told her children to watch their words to their friends. She would often say to them, “you can’t unscramble eggs, once the words are out there, they are forever out there, you can apologize, but the words are still there.”

This is so true.  I don’t know of anything more difficult to get past than unkind words spoken by someone you love.  They go deep, they hurt, and they can have long-term, devastating effects.  Thank God for the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all things!

Matthew 15:10-11 says; And He called the people to Him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

The Bible says by our words we are justified and by our words we are condemned.  It is what comes out of our mouth that will defile us.  The word defile means unclean.  It is what comes out of our mouth that can make us unclean in the eyes of God.

Proverbs 12:18 says; There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

James 1:26 says; If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

I could go on and on with scriptures about the words of our mouth, for the Bible has much to say on this subject, but I think you get the picture.

Today I want to encourage you to watch your words.  I realize we all have opportunity to speak harsh words, especially when we feel we are being mistreated or attacked, however, words spoken out of our mouth, cannot be erased.  Remember what my friend says, you can’t unscramble eggs.

Furthermore, our words affect all we do – including our prayers.  The Bible says bitter and sweet waters should not come from the same fountain.  It also says there is life and death in our words – that is a powerful statement.  May we remember this truth with every word we speak.

Here are some ways to make sure the words of our mouth are, always, pleasing to God.

Think before you speak. 

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath  (James 1:9).

If we would do this one thing, it would make an incredible difference, think before you speak and be slow to answer.  Weigh your answer by the word of God, before you speak.

The key to victory in this area is to refuse to be in a rush to respond when someone says something you do not agree with.  STOP!  Take a moment and think about your response.  This is especially true with the environment we find ourselves in today.  It is also more relevant than ever on social media.  Many people are lashing out with angry words, may we not be one of those.

Ask Yourself, is what I am about to say the truth?

Whoever would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit (1 Pet 3:10).

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers (Pr 6:16-20).

Do not say things you don’t know to be true.  Check your facts before you speak or before you share your thoughts with the entire world.  You cannot take them back, once they are spoken, they can’t be unsaid.

Are Your Words Kind and Spoken in Love?

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones (Prv 16:24).

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger   (Prv 15:1).

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness (Prv 31:26).

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit (Prv 15:4).

Oh my!  This is one we need to work on daily, especially with our loved ones and friends.  It’s easy to speak sharply when we are having a bad day.  The Bible says our words bring healing.  May it be so.

Will Your Words Bear Good Fruit?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

I will never forget the time I interviewed a well-known minister.  She shared something with me, and then she stopped and said, “Can you delete that please, although it is true, it will not bear good fruit.”

Those words have stuck with me for years and are often the ruler by which I measure true words, before I repeat them.  You may indeed know the truth about a person or a situation, however, that’s not reason enough to repeat what you know.  You must ask yourself, “What kind of fruit will it bear if I repeat this?”  If it is not a fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, then it is probably not worth repeating.

Words hurt, and God never meant for us to use words to hurt others.   There is great power in our words and He expects us to use that power for good, not for evil.

I believe this is especially true with those involved in intercession and prayer.  Often times we learn things by others asking us to pray in confidence.  This does not give us a right to repeat them.  Over and over again the Bible goes back to one theme; Love.  We are directed to love not only in deed, but with our words.  Words carry great weight – may we love well with our words.

In the Amplified Bible, James 3:10 says; Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way, for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts.

We have a moral obligation to speak in a way that reflects our fear of God and our respect for His word.  If we can remember this one scripture, we will do well.

Today, my prayer for all of us is this; may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be pleasing to you my Lord.

Kim Potter is a writer and the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, Charisma, Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the heart of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, imparting hope. For additional information, or to receive her daily writings, go to www.anewthingministries.com. (Photo Credit: Unsplash.)

Share your prayers for the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts to be pleasing to God in the comments below!

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Susan C
January 14, 2021

Yes and Amen to this message! “Words hurt, and God never meant for us to use words to hurt others. There is great power in our words and He expects us to use that power for good, not for evil.” That is truth “personified” Kim. When Jesus rebuked the adversary He used the Word of God and warned us… “I tell you this, you must give an account on the judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

Thank you Father for the Word, the Word who became Flesh and walked among humanity. Thank you Father for the opportunity to know Your Word through the Bible. Thank you Father for sealing us who believe, with the Holy Spirit, who keeps the word alive and active in our lives. We are set free in Your Word! Amen.

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brian
January 14, 2021

Thank you, Kim, for an important reminder about what we say. I must confess that I have been very negative regarding the future of our nation. What has transpired here in recent months is horrible. We do not need to get sucked into negativity and hopelessness. That is what satan wants us to do- to think that things are totally hopeless. Of course, this is not at all true. As long as Lord Jesus is on the throne, we have all the hope that we need. We cannot trust man to do the right thing, but, the really good news, is, that we can trust the Lord. He is soveirgn, and knows the beginning from the end. Amen.

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B Telford
January 14, 2021

THINK.This is what I used to help my Kindergarten students to guard their speech towards others. Ask yourself, “Is what I am about to say:

T:True? (ie: I saw it happen, or it aligns with God’s Word)
H:Helpful?
I:Inspiring?
N:Necessary?
K:Kind?
In this instance, “Everything I Needed to Know About Life, I Learned in Kindergarten ” truly applies!

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Theresa Ricklefs
January 14, 2021

Fortunately, the Lord only needs a remnant……………I have been busy training them the past 5 years through facebook………….

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Kim
January 14, 2021

I grew up in a very critical home and as such inherited a critical tongue. Praise God for repentance and that he gives us a way. I have been teaching the Fruits of the Spirit as well and love this article. Asking the question, what fruit will this bare?, before I talk is a great way to curb my tongue! Thank you

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Sally ray
January 14, 2021

Thank you so much for that reminder.

2
Denise
January 14, 2021

Lord,

Yesterday I responded badly. Although my words were true I could of said them in a better way. It seems daily I have to ask you to place a gate in front of my mouth. I ask for Your forgiveness. Please give me wisdom and discernment. Remind me that You don’t need me to speak The Truth in every situation. Sometimes silence speaks louder and You can use others. Help me to follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit. To speak when it can edify, encourage and lift up! I ask in Jesus Name

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Ana
January 14, 2021

Please watch Joni Lamb’s Table Talk this week. Go online or on Roku to view the episodes from this week. This will explain the events in country right now.

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Victor F. Andrews
January 14, 2021

Reminds me of the words of the great men of the Bible, King David. He was not by any means perfect as he made many mistakes, but he was one who had a repentant heart, THE key to salvation! “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you Oh Lord”, God Almighty and Creator of all things, in your precious, holy and high, name, Jesus!

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Sherry Mallory
January 14, 2021

Forgive us Father for our careless words. James 3:10 says we either bless or curse. In the name of Jesus and according to the Word, I bind and break off all curses that have been placed on our nation and our fellow Americans. Give us wisdom and discernment to fight this battle with You in the spiritual realm. Holy Spirit, remind us often of the examples of Jesus as he dealt with His enemies. Give us Your eyes that see beyond the events and people, who are entrapped by evil and darkness. Give us prayers that will stop Satan in his tracks and deliver people from evils influence. We too walked in darkness, but by God’s grace and mercy were redeemed. Your Kingdom come Your will be done, in the mighty name of Jesus.

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Cathy Dutko
January 14, 2021

As the disciples said, “didn’t our hearts burn?” The truth of this article cuts to the very soul of our hearts – O God let no unwholesome word come forth…only that which builds up and ministers the wonderful power of GRACE. He has extended His grace upon us. May we do the same to those around us. Wonderful and timely. Thank you

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Angela Meek
January 14, 2021

A much-needed word for the church today, and I am not excluding me in that. Lord let the words of your heart in how we speak become embedded in our hearts so that we speak life.

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