I can do a lot of things with my words. I can recite a poem, I can tell a story, and I can swear an oath. I can report the facts or tell a lie, I can curse or bless, and I can gossip or praise. I can tattle and manipulate, comfort and encourage, discourage and confuse, compliment or insult… I can even pronounce someone dead (if I’m a doctor) or married (if I’m an officiant.)

It’s a long list. The power of the tongue is undeniable.

But all these things I use my words for can be boiled down to two basic options: I can tell the truth. Or I can lie.

Truth almost always brings healing, growth, and change for the better. Lies almost always wreak havoc, destruction, division, and chaos.

That’s a little oversimplified — truth, or partial truth, told with malicious intent can do as much damage as a lie, and a lie told in love may foster healing — but my point is that every time I open my mouth to speak, I have the option to do good or do bad.

I’m not sure I spend enough time contemplating my decisions before I speak.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Telling well-crafted lies can get me very far in this broken world. It can even exalt me to the presidency. Truth can seem to lose all value in such a place. But one day, the lies I have told will come back to haunt me. It may not be until Jesus, the Truth Himself, returns, but on that day, I will eat the dried-up, bitter fruit of all my deception.

On the contrary, if I choose to speak the truth in love, to encourage, to comfort, to stand firm in the facts, to beautify with honesty, to unite and clarify, the fruit I eat when Jesus returns will be juicy and sweet.

Dear God,

Forgive me for not being more careful with my words. Thank you for the reminder of how powerful they can be. Help me to heal any damage I have caused with lies or self-serving manipulations. Teach me the beauty of truth and kindness and fill me with the words you would have me use every time I open my mouth.