What is one thing you possibly remember as a child growing up? Something which might have been spoken by your parents? Was it, “Watch your mouth?” It seemed I, at every turn, was saying something which did not conform to the standard and my mouth fell short of the task most days. I am sure my words were words other kids were saying, and they too probably got into trouble with their parents for voicing them. (Thankfully profanity was not allowed in our home, and in that, I bless my parents for not using it.)

Thinking back, I kept this thought, watch your mouth, inside of me, which has been “a rule of thumb” over the years. “Words can bring life, and according to the Word of God, they can bring death to another as well as yourself.” Take the word hope. It has such power behind the sound of it. Hope is just a word until you put action to it by voicing it in faith. This voicing allows God to manifest in the now and fulfill hope in every circumstance. When you share this, you are allowing your words, to bring relief in some measure to another. Hope can open the eyes of the discouraged and those who have come to believe, “Why even try?”

What about when you needed a word to encourage another or lead yourself on to your next moment? A soft word or answer spoken at the right time could be a soothing salve to your hurting heart; refreshing or nourishing you and bringing a spark of life back into your soul. You have the words of life, and they are in your heart and your mouth.

I have witnessed over the years that anger or a lie would surface between others. There did not seem to be an answer to the tension which was building. Peace in the heart of one, just one, and a softly spoken word could or would break the tension and diffuse the anger or danger in the situation.

The Word of God says to seek him with your whole heart, and you will find him. Your whole heart and soul desire Him.”All you have to do is believe.” It is that simple. Now, when you hear, “watch your mouth,” you will know it can bring life, death, or a greater hope within you or to another. Remember: “Faith in hope will cause action through charity.”

Deuteronomy 4:29 (KJV) Proverbs 15:1 (ERV) Proverbs 18:21 (CEV)