The Power of Words
Would you agree that words have power?
Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) — 21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Truth number one—words are a ______ ____ God.
The second truth is this—words can _______ ___ or ____________ ____________.
Truth number three—the quality of my life is determined by the ____________ _____ _____ ___________.
James 3:5–18 (NLT) — 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
1. Practice starting my day with ____________.
Psalm 145:2 (NLT) — 2 I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.
2. Offer words of ______________ to others daily.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) — 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
3. Work to remove all _______ __________ from my speech.
James 3:8–10 (NLT) — 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
4. Exercise ____________ twice as much as you _____________.
Proverbs 12:15 (NLT) — 15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.
5. Release my _______ ______ to God.
Matthew 15:11 (NLT) — 11 It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”
What are your words saying about you today?
Romans 6:13 (NLT) — 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.